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What is a
Plamsa Table?
A Plamsa table is very similar to a CNC Router
table, and that’s something that people might be more familiar with.
Where the Router cuts wood the Plasma cuts metal. If fact most
common metals can be cut out of sheets using the Plasma Table.
Sheets of metal are laid on the bed, and a shape
programmed into the machine, and then cut out using a Plasma arc
which is not unlike a welding torch. Technically its not accurate
but many people find it easier to visualise a welder connected to an
air line – the welder strikes up an arc melting the metal, and then
the air line blows the metal away, making a small hole – now if you
move that arc around – along a line and around a few corners you are
cutting out shapes!! That’s a CNC Plasma Table.
The Table can also be used with other machinery
to cut out wood, plastics, or fibreglass, or for engraving, or
marking. The basic machine is designed for Plasma but can be used
for other processes.
A few
facts about Plasma Tables:-
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Most tables are far more accurate than the
Plasma process itself.
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Most Plasma Table suppliers laser cut the
items. A little bit of an irony to spend time and money
persuading you that CNC Plasma is great and then use an
alternative process!!
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Most Plasma tables come as kits – just like
MFI you have to figure what the heck the instructions are trying
to say, and then assemble it, adjust and set up, and several
days (or weeks) later you are ready to start cutting parts. You
probably have better things to do with your time than assemble
the table or with several suppliers actually make the table and
fit their drive gear.
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Since many suppliers are just kit resellers
they often do not have working tables for you to see, and
sometimes don’t even know how they go together or work.
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Some tables still do not have Z axis –
several Chinese makers in fact – Plasma won’t cut very well at
all, without the Z axis to ensure an accurate gap to the metal –
this is the most critical part, and has the largest effect on
the quality of cut.
Why buy
from us?
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We make your tables on our tables. Yes that’s
right. We use our own CNC Plasma tables to make the parts for
your CNC Plasma tables – we have confidence in our own products.
That’s really the best endorsement you can have.
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We operate CNC Plasma tables in our other
business. All the Lambo door parts at
www.lambodoors.co.uk
and all the air suspension brackets at
www.airride.co.uk and all
brackets and fixtures needed at
www.gordonz.co.uk are
made on Plasma-PRO tables.
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We are really enthusiastic about these
products, and think that every fabrication shop in the country
should have one. Most tables pay for themselves in 6 months, and
it is very unusual not to pay for the unit in the first 12
months of use, simply in labour savings. Of course there are
then so many new items that you can make, that it opens up new
markets.
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All machines are fully assembled – you just
need to plug in the power and the air, and you are working – you
can be up and running in less than an hour!! Not days or weeks,
as is often the case.
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Free training day included if needed. Start
in the morning, and actually cut parts within minutes – by the
end of the day you too will be a Plasma PRO. Bring a
Luton van and we will train you and show you on your own table
which you can then take away at the end of the day. Further on
site training also available on request, but not included in
machine cost.
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We design, we build, we use, we advise – if
you have a question, we don’t have to ask – we most likely
already know.
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We don’t rebrand software – Mach 3 is £85,
and Sheetcam is another £85 – these are fantastic products with
back-up and advice that in unparalleled at any cost. These are
the products that our tables use. Of course if you want to spend
between £1000 and £6000 on software to run the table then feel
free – we use the Sheetcam/Mach 3 combo that works so well.
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Why are our table so cheap – if you are a
fabricator then you know the real cost of metal, nuts, bolts and
gears - £20,000-£40,000 just is not a realistic price, and you
will find plenty quoting these sorts of figures. So much so that
most fabricators think these tables are not in their price range
– fear not they are affordable, and they can be very profitable.
We don’t have expensive showrooms, or salesmen. This cuts a huge
chunk out of the equation – if you deal with us, then you will
be buying from someone whom uses a table all the time.
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