- Joined
- Jul 15, 2020
- Messages
- 422
I posted this two years ago, but thought I would do an update for newer members who may have missed it.
While we would all like to have the space in our shop for a 4' x 8' or larger CNC plasma table, exhaust system, etc., many of us do not. Still, we should not deny ourselves such a fabulous, time saving process just because we don't have the ideal location for it.
A plasma table is a lot like a pool table, since in addition to the size of the table you also need substantial operating room around it. Besides the space requirements, it produces great quantities of plasma dust which settles on everything and is unhealthy to breathe. If you use it indoors, your work area needs to resemble a paint booth with an exhaust system. A water table is another approach, but that creates its own set of problems, with water getting all over the floor, and an accumulation of debris that needs to be cleaned out periodically. Another problem is that you can't see the torch tip-to-work distance. With a large table, you generally need an automatic torch height control, since a 4' x 8' sheet is rarely perfectly flat. You also need a forklift or some other means of moving and loading heavy sheets of steel.
A small table used outside eliminates virtually all the above problems. It solves the space and plasma dust problems, and eliminates the need for a torch height control. A small 2' x 2' steel sheet can be clamped down to be perfectly flat. While a torch height control prolongs consumables life, in limited production and prototype work that is somewhat irrelevant. Small steel sheets (12" x 18", 2' x 2', etc.) are available at reasonable cost on-line from Midwest Steel and Aluminum, www.midweststeelsupply.com. Small sheets can easily be moved by hand, and are reasonable flat to start with. Note that you should still use a small face mask (we all have a bunch of these by now, I imagine) and suitable eye protection. Plasma cutting does not produce the amount of hot sparks as welding, but you should still make sure there are no inflammable items sitting close by (and don't wear shorts).
Over 20 years ago, I made a 2' x 2' table I could roll out of my garage in a couple of minutes to cut a shape. More recently, I built a similar 2' x 2' machine. This one I keep outside under my deck under a vinyl fire pit cover. The compressor and plasma cutter are just inside the basement door, 10 feet away. It takes 5 minutes to hook up the cables and mount the torch. While I use it less often during the winter, I leave the machine intact for the times I do use it. It has survived over three winters under the cover and still works perfectly. I was initially worried about the motors and electrical connections, but they seem fairly impervious to the conditions as long as they are kept dry.
The first picture shows the initial machine that was on casters and rolled out of my garage. The second is my current machine. I have included a few photos of the build. One picture shows a torch height control on the machine, which proved unnecessary.
While we would all like to have the space in our shop for a 4' x 8' or larger CNC plasma table, exhaust system, etc., many of us do not. Still, we should not deny ourselves such a fabulous, time saving process just because we don't have the ideal location for it.
A plasma table is a lot like a pool table, since in addition to the size of the table you also need substantial operating room around it. Besides the space requirements, it produces great quantities of plasma dust which settles on everything and is unhealthy to breathe. If you use it indoors, your work area needs to resemble a paint booth with an exhaust system. A water table is another approach, but that creates its own set of problems, with water getting all over the floor, and an accumulation of debris that needs to be cleaned out periodically. Another problem is that you can't see the torch tip-to-work distance. With a large table, you generally need an automatic torch height control, since a 4' x 8' sheet is rarely perfectly flat. You also need a forklift or some other means of moving and loading heavy sheets of steel.
A small table used outside eliminates virtually all the above problems. It solves the space and plasma dust problems, and eliminates the need for a torch height control. A small 2' x 2' steel sheet can be clamped down to be perfectly flat. While a torch height control prolongs consumables life, in limited production and prototype work that is somewhat irrelevant. Small steel sheets (12" x 18", 2' x 2', etc.) are available at reasonable cost on-line from Midwest Steel and Aluminum, www.midweststeelsupply.com. Small sheets can easily be moved by hand, and are reasonable flat to start with. Note that you should still use a small face mask (we all have a bunch of these by now, I imagine) and suitable eye protection. Plasma cutting does not produce the amount of hot sparks as welding, but you should still make sure there are no inflammable items sitting close by (and don't wear shorts).
Over 20 years ago, I made a 2' x 2' table I could roll out of my garage in a couple of minutes to cut a shape. More recently, I built a similar 2' x 2' machine. This one I keep outside under my deck under a vinyl fire pit cover. The compressor and plasma cutter are just inside the basement door, 10 feet away. It takes 5 minutes to hook up the cables and mount the torch. While I use it less often during the winter, I leave the machine intact for the times I do use it. It has survived over three winters under the cover and still works perfectly. I was initially worried about the motors and electrical connections, but they seem fairly impervious to the conditions as long as they are kept dry.
The first picture shows the initial machine that was on casters and rolled out of my garage. The second is my current machine. I have included a few photos of the build. One picture shows a torch height control on the machine, which proved unnecessary.
