I'm DONE with my PLASMA TABLE 

I have had cnc tables for 15 years... I bought a STV CNC table a few months ago and LOVE it...... Does what I want When I Want and is very Precise.... STV CNC Las Vegas Nevada

You should keep your tools clean. That is pure neglect.

I’m using a Premier Plasma Table setup. About a year in constant use with no major issues..smooth operation and very easy to maintain. Gantry is a steel tube and very strong. Cons - could be made a little more robust. Table grate needs more offset to avoid cutting down the center of slats.

I've got an Arclight Pro 9600x. Absolutely love the thing and the customer service is phenomenal. Only regret is that I didn't purchase a bigger table. In hindsight I would have bought their 6x12 Arc Max Table. Thats on my future upgrades list

I have been using a LDR 5x10 for nearly 6 years. Pros...Price, its built really well, Dan provides exceptional customer support, uses CandCNC electronics that are not locked down, water bladder provides quick adjustment of the water level, most every replacement component is available online. Cons....could be more accurate above 150 IPM, I would like some type of torch collision protection, sometimes it will randomly fault out (may be a result of the old computer that the older software uses....new stuff is Linux based)

I have a 5x10 Star lab and love it! Pros Quality Service is second to none Simple to use (was new to cancel) Cons Lead time to get it (but worth the wait) So far after 7 months that's really the only con I have

I’ve been running an Arclight 4x8 table for around a year and a half. Pros, love the support (actual human being in the USA), options for engraver, router, tube cutter, etc. solid setup with a hypertherm85. Go bigger than you think. Get a 6x12 table. Cons, wish it had a water bladder setup, switching from plasma to router a bit hokey (ended up building my own setup). Some say Linux is a pain, but so far so good with not a single glitch.

Interested to see what you move on to

I have a 4x8 flat deck premier plasma table absolutely love it. Pros- nicely built no expenses sparred on quality. Nice motors, great controller box and comes with pc and all the files you need like Mach 3 and sheetcam. Tons of attachments like water table, pipe cutter, water mist attachment, router attachment. Cons- comes out of square so needs cables added to each corner, bolt together isn’t always the best way to go and junk gets on the rails so they have to be cleaned every now and then. Other than that I’ve never had any major issues with the table. Use it everyday and don’t regret buying it at all. Good luck finding a table that works for you and can’t wait to see what you get.

Arclight pros for me is they are produced in my home state, awesome customer service and support, well built. Negatives are that the water table was not designed to be drained and refilled, I have built my own drain and refill system!! Would highly recommend, please at least take a look at them!! Great company!!!!

I used an arclight 4800 Great little 4x4 machine with a Hypertherm 65 at its side Pros: it could handle anything you could ask from a small foot print cnc plasma and had some nice features; deep water bed with easy to remove slats and a drain on the bottom of the pan, pretty nice aluminum extrusion frame with steel reinforcement and completely contained and filtered electronics cabinet all ready to run at a pretty decent price Cons:the cold rolled steel and bearing carriages were a little bit higher maintenance than I would have liked them to be and you always had to be aware to not scratch them when throwing a sheet of steel on the bed. And I had a few minor issues with the built in torch height control and plasma cutter on/off relay box but I just called arclight and they helped my figure it out. Side note: I do think they have changed there newer tables design by replacing the bearing carriages on steel slats with a V grove bearing system or protected linear rail setup I can’t remember off the top off my head Hopefully my comment was helpful

I have Premier Plasma CNC Table. It's their 4x8 flat deck. It's a hobby grade machine similar in construction to your's so it's probably not something you're looking for but if someone else is in the market. Pros: 1. I've own it for 3 years with no mechanical or electrical issues so far. 2. I had no problems with assembly and everything worked right from the start. I didn't have to any setup other than the cutting parameters. 3. It was affordable Cons: 1. it's a little flimsy so I don't run it faster than 80 ipm. I cut mostly 3/16" and 1/4" sheets. The cuts on the 1/4" always look beautiful even when cutting 1/4" holes. 2. The water table leaks like a screen door with the supplied and pre-applied silicone. I would recommend using automotive gasket silicone or construction adhesive when assembling from the start. 3. The torch holders are hokey so I machined my own from billet aluminum. The problems I have been having with it has to do with the Hypertherm 65. I'm ready to chuck it. Hypertherm customer service is no help. I've burned up more consumables than I paid for everything. So i'm probably going to replace that before the table. If I had the time I would like upgrade it to ball bearing linear slides and stiffen up the Y axis rails to improve the resolution at higher speeds. I enjoy your contact and appreciate the time you take to create it. It helps me with my business.

Pros on my table, takes up no space. Cons, I don't have one yet. *Sorry I'm kinda sarcastic.

I have owned my Arclight Dynamics table for about 2 years now. Not using mine as much as you but have had no issues. Their customer support is absolutely awesome. My only cons are shipping costs (Oregon to Florida which is somewhat understandable) and the computer runs Lynux so I have to have 2 computers as some of my design programs won't run on it. Also the design software that comes with it is not the greatest. Overall though completely satisfied.

I'm in Spain and I use a R-Tech Extreme Plasma table and it is excellent valve for money. Very well made and like it lots. Cons are I suppose linear bearings would be nice rather than rollers. But it be honest price wins.

I made my own. BUT, if I were going to buy one it would be from Arclight Dynamics. Their tables are really well made for a production environment, and complete. I know a few large fabrication shops (oil and gas large) that run their larger tables and they are top notch. Good luck!

Proper timely preventive maintenance is the key for any equipment running smoothly at all times!

Arclight Cnc out of Bend OR. Great company and even better customer service!

Pros of our table: 1. It never gives us problems 2. It's the cheapest option out there 3. Consumables almost never need replacing Cons of our table: 1. It doesn't exist 2. We can't make anything with it 3. It's a little under-powered

I built my table 5x20 then bought a Precision Plasma Gantry/table design and a Sparkrobotic Control package. Pros - 1. I built it. It breaks I can fix it. 2. Saved a lot of money making it and had fun doing it. 3. Proven design that works and myplasma is so user friendly. Cons- 1. Belt drive works but should of upgraded to helical gear 2. If slag hits one of the drive wheels it can miss a step. Had this happen cutting 1200 holes on 3/8 thick. I just wasn’t paying any attention and didn’t (and still havnt) installed a small sheet to protect the rail. 3. Cutting like 85amps with my Hypertherm at 10ga just hammers the system in my opinion. I think a lot of that goes back to the belt drive system.

Arclight Dynamics pro 4x4 with Hypertherm Powermax 85. Have had it since 2014ish and has been nothing but good. #1 they sell only one way - complete with water table, torch height control and all must have accessories are included not optional. #2 I drove all the way to Bend, OR to get it, they train me on my table then load it … that was great but the place is clean, professional, efficient and pride is apparent. #3 I see no reason this machine won't outlive me. #4 Accurate as the day I bought it with obvious maintenance. Sorry for the lack of con's brother and I'm sure other brands are OK but you can stop looking buy from those people without remorse. That's my two cents and good luck.

Currently have a Torchmate 2 (build my frame option), stepper drive with Hypertherm Powermax 1000 with upgraded Hypertherm Duramax machine torch Pros: 1. Rugged 2. with a little fiddling, can be VERY accurate 3. Was pretty cheap (10 years ago) CONS: 1. Slow 2. Takes to much "Fiddling" 3. Slow - can't achieve cuts over 200 ipm, or it will overstep Looking seriously at JD Squared. The are in Tennessee. Have a reputation for quality (Think Tube Benders). They use Servo motors for the bed. Ridiculous travel speeds. Reasonable price. I need to do more research on them and compare to others, but have been very impressed on what I have seen so far. Plan to do a plant tour when we get through this Pandemic... Good luck on your search.

We have a Torchmate 5100 with a 200 amp Lincoln plasma. Cuts are clean up to 1.25 thick. Love the machine and the one call for service and support. Con is the price. It will take a lot of work to pay for.

I researched tables for a year and a half. It came down to JD2 and Tracker CNC, and it was a very hard decision. I ended up with a Tracker for 2 main reasons. 1) The support is PHENOMENAL. 2) I am in Canada, and they have a manufacturing facility only 2.5 hours from my house, so I could pick it up and save tons on shipping. The US facility is in Port Huron, MI. PROS: Simple design and easily fixable. If anything does go wrong (normally because of my own user errors) they have support pretty much 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. Lifetime support! 3 year warranty. If you have an issue and you call, a human picks up the phone to answer your questions. They will log into your computer remotely an find your issue. (again, 99% of the time it was my own error and they just fix it for you so you know what to do next time) Height control built in. The price point is pretty good and they have a 30th anniversary sale price right now. Easy to use. It has worked pretty much flawlessly. CONS: It does not have all the features the JD2 does if you wanted any of those extra's. This one is for you.... They don't have a water table. Downdraft or no smoke control. Even if you don't go with tracker, it is worth giving these guys a call and talking to them. They are really friendly.

To begin, I am at home, word of mouth, hobbyist that's profits covers my annual beer consumption and family vacations. I have an Arclight Dynamic with a hypertherm powermax 65. I started with a home-built table (powermax45) and outgrew it (had flash backs watching this video....). I decided to buy a manufactured table to save downtime on building another machine. I did a lot of research. I decided to buy an Arclight for a lot of reasons, however their customer service was what finally sold me, which included during the sales process when there was a glitch in my quote and they comped several add-ons that I had requested but they had missed. They have a bunch of accessories that you can upgrade the table with, I definitely recommend the 5 stage air filtration, the Arc Sync, and the infeed rollers (I have to load the metal by myself....). I did end up hauling a horse trailer across the country to pick it up, which saved thousands of dollars on freight and sales tax. While there I had my wife go through their training program so she can run the table when I'm at my "real" job. The pros Made in the US. Not a kit, really sturdy. Had a year now with no glitches (knock on wood...) Awesome customer service and usable instructions Hypertherm Consumable life (I credit the filtration system and arc sync) Software flow I was familiar with. Inscape or Qcad -> sheetcam -> Command CnC (which is a very similar and improved mach 3) The cons I had doubts about the water table drain (pvc ball valve) but it has not leaked nor gummed up yet. The two cat-5 cables from the computer to the plasma cutter were different lengths, so I ended up buying a longer one because I build a dolly for the cutter so I could easily move it around as I wasn't sure exactly were I was going to put it. They are expensive, but its already paid for its self. Cheers! -E

Just got into the cnc world about 6 months ago with a small crossfire table which was was ok to get my feet wet. I have been doing countless hours of research on big 5x10 tables. The table I have decided to go with is a STV 510 that came in just under 10k. Lead time is 4 to 5 weeks which is amazing compared to other manufactures. Pros: 1: Included water table able to submerge the material. 2: Break away head with crash detection. 3: Life time tech support Cons: 1: Price came in on the high end for my budget 2: Non welded frame ( can only hold up to 2000 pounds. There was a 3k difference in price for the welded frame. Told them that I would weld it lol welded frame can hold up to 4000 pounds and there was no difference in the machine just the welds) 3: I'm unfamiliar with their software. ( personal con being i come from sheet cam and mach3)

We use a Pinnacle Down Draft plasma and a Whitney Plasma/Punch at work. The Whitney is a 5X10 infeed table with a skeleton drop at the other end. Machine is about 20' long X 10' wide. The Pinnacle is 28' long X 10' wide with a cutting area of 8.5' X 24.5'. Both good tables, lots of power (cut up to 1/2" plate on the Whitney and 2" on the Pinnacle). The cost of the machines, I have no idea, I'm just an operator. And another con is the floor print these two machines take up....not including the dust collection systems. But they are great plasma tables. The Pinnacle runs off a 400 A Hypertherm power pack while the Whitney runs off a 260 A Hypertherm power pack.

Arclight 5 x 10 12000 Good quality for the price. Wish I could have afforded the arcmax at the time, much sturdier table. Great customer service. The water table could be a bit deeper. Greasing it sucks. The zircs are a pain to reach.

Hey I've been using a Swift cut plasma for six years now and have to say its got very few down sides if any . the nesting software is bloody ACE defiantly worth a look .love you're video's by the was all the best Nick

Ive a Samson 5x10 105Amp hypertherm. Im in Australia and we have probably 1/4 of the options you USA boys do. brought my machine 2nd hand around 4 months ago, I have loved how easy it is to operate. the THC works very well impressive to see it run up and down a sheet when some warpage occurs. I would like to see some improvements on the machine its self but seeing the soft ware on various other units I am very happy with my choice.

Checkout Torchmate 5100, Pros 1. lots of options (Bevel head, pneumatic plate marker, water or downdraft table) 2. Industrial table meant for high production protected side rails, magnetic breakaway torch etc. 3. Software packages include nesting, and picture trace making logos very easy. Cons 1. Computer fixed to the table can move location. 2. More expensive than other tables. 3. Not sure what your brand loyal is on the plasma cutter but only comes with Lincoln plasmas. Full disclosure, I work for Lincoln.

I love my Westcott! Talk to Ryan Wrstcott. They're in Arizona. We drove out there from California to see them in action before we bought our 4x8 Titan and were really impresses. Ryan is GREAT and personally answers any questions or issues.

Cons - Stuff gets caugh in the rack and cause our plasma table to do what yours does. (Our rack and pinion is on the top of the table) If this is you man problem I'd recommend buying and installing a new rack and pinion yourself and making a cover to enclose it.

No matter the brand, Loctite the screws that hold stuff together, like that gear of yours, so nothing walks on its own from little vibration. Also would take a machine with servos on it any day (like Clearpath), as they can signal an error when something happens to the mechanics of the machine, like too much torque required (collision, binding, something) and the controller knows to stop it before you get a plate full of scrap.

There are a couple of main companies in the arena that a guy of your size are likely in. JD2 and Starlabs. There are a few others but those have excellent control packages that should not be discounted. I believe that shop saber still uses wincnc, which is not good. Starlabs has a flashcut control option, which is superior right now. JD2 has a modified LinuxCNC interface, which is great. I use LinuxCNC (plasmac) and love the features. A welded frame, gear reduction, and fast rapids are the main things that I personally (for what that is worth) think you should look for. I built my own and have been very very satisfied. But the most recent table was a bear to finish in the middle of getting customer work and just ended up causing me a lot of stress, so for a developed solid business move on to purchasing. My table is servo driven, rapids at 2,000 ipm, 10:1 gear reduction, and 5.5' x 11.5' for simple 5x10 sheet cutting. Full welded frame, fork pockets, frame weighs 1 ton without water. Auto squaring gantry. Full limit switch setup. 5" water table. blah blah. Looking really forward to watching this part of your journey. Good luck man!

I have a trackercnc. Had it for about 9 months so still learning it and the software. Not bad expensive and it’s downdraft not water table. Customer service is really great. Haven’t had any issues. The software is coreldraw x7 and cut & command. Very accurate. Would like nesting software. Once I learn the Corel I’m sure I will get better with it

Have a Starlab love it built really well

Ok 2 things you should look for is size to handle 5*10 feet sheets as a must have and 4 D function those days it's a massive factor when you can cut 4D.

I'm currently using the Hypertherm XPR300 Raptor! It has the TruHole and TruBevel features that are amazing. The only issues I've had with it have been software related. They haven't gotten all the bugs out yet...but for thinner stuff....goes thru like butter. TruHoles are the best I've ever seen from a plasma. Went thru a company CSI in Cleveland, OH.

I love your channel and have learned a ton watching your videos. I have a shop sabre sidekick 10. fairly new owner (just passed year one). Pros so far: It is easy to operate. you home it and off you go. Customer service is great and extremely responsive if you have any issues. It has a hypertherm torch which you are already familiar with. Cons so far: It took16 weeks to get. (custom builds they make it when you order it. I wanted it sooner. I can't seem to get the anti-rust plasma defense mix right. it seems to rust faster than I thought it would. Finally I should have purchased the breakaway torch stop instead of the mag holder. I had some mild steel twist and bow while cutting a big detailed project and the torch snagged and pulled the alignment off. I blew the whole sheet and it looked like what you just showed in this video. Overall I would recommend them. American made... Keep up the great videos. you rock.

I have a JDsquared MAD 4x8 plasma table with a Hypertherm Powermax 65 plasma unit. Pros: Very solidly built. I load mine by hand, but this thing would stand up to a forklift very well. Been running this machine for about a year and a half with no issues. I didn't even need Tech support to get started. In fact, I've never had to call Tech support. There are many people with a lot of knowledge on Facebook though, slight disclaimer there. :) Made in USA with USA part when available, they don't skimp on quality components. Cons: Proprietary software, Has not been a problem for me, but time will tell. At the higher end of the light industrial table price market. Many prefer linear guides which this table does not have. Again, hasn't been a problem for me.

Westcott plasma tables are some of the best tables and the design to cut software is top notch. There is learning curves to the software but other than that my table runs almost every day and I've had to replace one prox switch in almost two years, other than that I haven't had a issue. The customer service is also top notch and tech support,

Arclight Dynamics. We are currently a dealer for them. I am not biased one bit. I have 1 of their pro systems it's great. I would recommend the max fully welded option for your shop. We have sold plasma cam, torch mate, and several other systems. No one has come close to an arclight. Pros on my personal table -Well build aluminum extrusion system. They dont stick to a design, they are constantly improving their product based on customer response. -customer support is next level. Lifetime phone support for the table. They have even offered support to some of my customers who have bought tables second hand. -they work directly with hypertherm who are the leaders in plasma cutting systems. Cons -cad software that comes with the table is terrible. I upgraded my system to autocad 2019 on my own -inkscape and sheetcam have trouble from time to time communicating. No fault of the table manufacturer. -nesting parts is a nightmare. I would definently look into a product like pronest. I could go on and on about what to buy. Have you thought about a used co2 laser? You seem to have quite a bit of production cutting in your shop.

I have a jd2 top pros of my table are I am able to repair everything from the motion controller all the way down to a remote computer problem. Something they could have done better is sharing the knowledge instead of keeping everything a secret which is why in the 4 years I owned this table I've never called them for their required walk-through setup. With that said I love my table.

For the material thicknesses you primarily work with, you may want to consider a fiber laser. We got a 10kW Bystronic at work about a year ago and are averaging nearly 900IPM on 12ga. That being said, they are not cheap.

Glad you made this video and hope you have a follow up. I’ve been doing a lot of research and I think I’m going to pull the trigger on my first table next year.

Cyrious Metal Works cnc table. Built in Texas, I've had mine for 6 months. Has auto torch height control which is amazing, but sometimes becomes an issue when cutting thin pieces of metal, as the torch will dive down if you get into a corner. Again, this is only on thin metal like aluminum. I have the 4x8 table and it isnt the full top notch one. Theres a level higher than the one I got and I wish I went all out and got it. Look them up, my table was around $15k with a hypertherm 45xp and installation.

I would update your drive and gantry system gears where out over time. And I don't see any tensioner on the drive motors. I have had my diy cnc plasma for 21 years and I do weekly maintenance and semi annual and annual parts replacement and over time I improved my design to effectively produce quality parts. The gantry is the most important part for stability but the base that it sits on is very important to. My very first experience with plasma cnc was my friends shop with plasma cam 1999 when we needed steel cut for mini excavator bucket that was not in production and so I hired it done. As time went on parts growth needs expanded but when I no longer could get said parts after a few months I decided to build my own cnc plasma table and it worked well with lots trial and error It became more improved over time as anything does. My suggestion is by avid cnc gantry kit and retrofitting your system or by there drive motors or parts needed to do the job. I see a lot of cnc plasma table out there but these days how lone will they last. But maintenance is a must in any cnc cutting system i.e. plasma water jet lasers milling or lathe systems lack of maintenance it all becomes future troubles. And costly loss of monetary funds.

Realy liked my torchmate ground rails and screwball steppermotor liner drives... Stout table, Fast and accurate

I wish you luck in the plasma table search! Been watching your videos for just over a year now can’t wait to see what you get! I personally after researching many different tables out there went with an ArcLight Dynamic 5X10Pro myself. Can’t wait to get it up an running so no pros or cons from me. Seeing what you do & how you operate you’ll find one that fits your needs no problem & make any plasma table work! All the best! An again can’t wait to see what you get!

Torchmate 4400 series with flexcut 80 Pros: Reliable machine (with 2 year warranty) Unlimited tech support Cad software comes with machine and works well. Cons: High input cost 22k+ Not a laser machine. You have to figure out machine issues, video them and send them to tech support. Then perform repairs yourself with the parts they send. High consumable cost after 3 years almost 5k additional. Bellows (x axis curtains)wear out they cost 300. I should have bought the 4800 4'x8' but it was 6k more and you can index a 4' table for large parts. * for the items I build and want to build O should have bought a laser machine. Watch videos of them opperating and you will think twice on a plasma table.

this is an old post and im sure you have a new one by now , but mate i cleaned my tracks and checked all the little gears of the home made machine I ran EVERY DAY ! now running a Swift cut with hypotherm plasma and can blow through 25 mm ( 1 inch ) tips and nozzles dont last as long and arent cheap but the cut quality is excellent , the drawing program that comes with it is so bad I deleted it ! i miss the total control I had with the old machine (and the mach 3 software ) (eg adding layers for cheating kerfs for finer cuts or to leave more meat for the machinists ) and I miss being able to grab an old cut and speed up or slow down for same part in different thickness ( now i have to reload and re name the part in the corrrect thickness ,and the machine knows what to do .......) not a biggie but in my work things evolve and seem to go up a size quite often . let us know what you choose ,cheers !

I feel like you'd be able to just buy some beefier parts from mcmaster carr and just upgrade the cnc fairly easily given that metal fabrication is your thing. Look into alternative linear motion systems than the rack and pinion yours uses like a big linear rail used in bandsaw mills. Depending on how you implement it, you'll probably just need to calibrate your esteps and you'll be good.

At Mountain Metal we use a Westcott Plasma table: Pros: -Price -Quality build with good parts and craftsmanship Hypertherm 85 amp Plasma included Cons: -no on-site initial set-up and commissioning assistance -design and control software is a bit lacking but useable -included CPU is lacking in storage space. Had to add r.a.m. etc in order to cut larger files. I did a lot of research prior to purchasing and found Westcoot to be the best value quailty-wise. Table is well built and the components high quality. Tech support, CPU, and initial operability assistance could be improved. Our CPU had a failed port after 2.5 years that was messing up our cuts and wasting alot of material. We spent alot of time and effort determining the issue. Westscott does not have service techs to dispatch to help with things like this. All in all, and even with the few issues, We would buy another table from Ryan and the Westcott team.

I’m in the process of specifying and purchasing a Swiftcut Pro machine at the moment. Good friend of mine has the exact same model and has been using it for over two years so I’ve had the benefit of his hindsight and experience. His opinion was he would purchase the exact same machine again in a heartbeat. 3M x 1.5M bed, down draught extraction although water table is also available, running a hypertherm power max 125. It is equipped with the Swift Mark engraving head as well which apart from engraving designs can also be used to mark fold lines or centre mark holes for drilling in thicker material where a parallel hole is paramount. Support is excellent and he says if you can’t resolve a problem the manufacturer can remote log in via team viewer etc to sort most things for you. Main downside he found and it was only minor is that the bed is close to the maximum sheet size so there is not a lot of leeway when loading a big sheet. He mainly uses 2500x1250 sheets on it though so it’s only an occasional concern.

It’s seems any plasma table available is got its issues. A rebuild may be your best option. You already know your table, re working the x and y axis to a more rigid design, also adding a separate encoder for the axis with software that will support a way for the axis to stop/fault when your table has a mechanical issue like the the one you are having now

Hi from Australia🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺.. I run a Piranha Table. 3mx1.5m. Or 10’ x 5’ in your language. With a Hypertherm 105.. We have more cons than pros with our table but most of the cons are due to human error.. as you see we have the best in hardware but we don’t have enough training with our table, so as you can imagine; lots of wastage. But we are learning every day.. I believe the software we are using is inferior to others we are seeing when we visit other plasma users... We use fast cam pro.. I am experienced in Autocad but the fastcam software we inherited with our table has a lot left to be desired.. we will change but need more income first.. I have become a king of no wastage as of late..nesting and homing the start point has been a triumph to me lately. Keeping the consumables in good condition has become my priority... as in keeping a Hawkeye on cutting height and pierce heights to minimise damage to tips and shields. Also we have installed a high quality air dryer ($3100.00 worth) suitable to our needs which has increased the longevity of our consumables a lot. All I can say is be patient and learn more about your machine and skill set.. Btw. I. Like your videos..👌👌👍👍👍

What did you decide on and if you don't mind, what CAD/CAM are you running?

How much for your old one? Would be perfect for my hobby shed. 🤔

I have my eye on Fabricate America for my first personally owned system. Don't know much about them yet. Torchmate X - expensive for what you get. Tables are tough as nails and the water beds are nice. They are good but 60k is insane. Plasma cam - still the best in machine CAD to cut CAM ever. Machines tables are a little light duty though. I've ran a few others and some lasers that were all whatever they cut metal just fine.

best of luck with the table hunting, a lot of my friends in Ireland run swiftcut tables, guy nearest me has be putting 20 odd tons of plate a week through his for 4 years now and has had no problems it runs 14 hours a day

Langmuir Crossfire Pro Pros: Very Low Cost of Entry Small Footprint Large User Base Cons: 4'x3' Table Not Heavy Duty Mine hasn't shipped yet

i would relly like a follow up on this. I am thinking of building my own table and would relly like to see what are some things i should be out for, thank for the grate video as always.

I will give you my experience with my Plasmacam. I bought it second hand from Chucke2009 in early 2017. He had had issues with it and was ready for it to be gone. It has been a good table for me. I still use it almost everyday for all of my metal sign and fabrication. The good? The software is easy to use. The height control is very good. I am able to make my own replacement grates from standard flat bar instead of buying the grates from Plasmacam. Because it is a 4x4 table I can load it by hand without the need for a fork lift. The bad? The cable management is essentially a boom over the table that the cables hang from. This is a pain when loading and unloading the table. The connection from the control panel to the computer is via an old school parallel cable. Modern computers don’t have these type of ports anymore. The customer service is hit and miss. The bearings do get bad and need replacing periodically, although I now buy them elsewhere as the Plasmacam markup seems too high for me. Since it is a 4x4 table I have to cut my sheets in half before using them on the table. Note, the Samson is the same table as the Plasmacam but is a 5x10 I believe. You can see some of the things that it has cut on Instagram @plasmasigns.

Did you ever sort out the plasma table issue? I am asking because I am currently looking at table options for myself. I want an R&P drive like in your table (?). My guess is that many of the R&P designs need to periodically snuggle up the pinion to the rack. Any thoughts?

I have the same table in Greece the guy making them is no longer in the market. I had to upgrade a lot of stuff in it.

Plasmacam. They've been around for years. Awesome easy to use software. Bought mine used and haven't had a single problem with it in 3 years. It's perfect for a hobbyist but might not be heavy duty enough for a hight production shop.. I feel they are pretty affordable compared to what else is on the market. For any new first time buyer out there any machine you look at itll be sticker shock at how much any machine costs.

I'm curious on which one you'll go with.

Make sure that your Gantry is level along your x axis the gears could be off calibration from one another

Don’t own a table but one of the other channels I watch had a table installed it looked super nice. It was a koike shop pro or something like that. They have other tables too though so something to have a look at.

Hey Richard, I just received my 5x10 Cyrious Metal works table I don't know the longivity yet but is built like a tank! I'm a little over an hour a way in Sapulpa OK if you want to make the drive you are welcome to come check it out. You can cut parts or whatever! This is the least I can do for you taking the time to talk to me when I visited your shop!

I researched for about a year all the ones on the market ended up going with a JD squared four by four water table 2 years and have never had a problem I have not used it daily like you do and they are more expensive but I figure you get what you pay for.

What brand is it? I'm getting ready to buy 1

I have seen lots of videos of tables in use. What I want to know is about the learning curve. For example how do you go from heres what I want to having it in the computer ready to run. What is that process like? Mostly I hear a lot of complaints about tables. Everything from table problems to software issues to bad customer service.

Plasma tables, just like any equipment used a lot are subject to a specific lifetime of trouble free use. Stuff wears out! Drills, saws, grinders all wear out. Sounds like yours has reached the end of it's life, without some major rebuilding. Sometimes, replacement ends up being the more economical option. Best brand to buy? I've used several and can say that they all work well, unless they aren't working right, at which point they become a monumental pain in the ass! Nature of the beast!

Hello

I have a 5x10 Chinese Machine and a 4x8 Torchmate. Cheap AF Chinese one is my favorite. I spent so much time making it work for me that I know every detail about it, bearing, rollers..etc Changed from steppers to Servos and I use that thing 80% of the time cutting 3/8 and 1/2 AR500 plates. I never even opened up the plasma cutter it came with. Hooked up a hypertherm 85 and off I went. Paid it off in a month. My torchmate is for my more precision dependent parts. Oh and that Chinese machine cuts tube and pipe on a side attachment. I can cut bevels on pipe for these lazy as welders in California. More for me I guess

I'd say you are on the border line of needing an Industrial type of plasma table, pretty sure you wont like the prices though!! I run a Messer Metal Master Plus built in 2009 with a Hypertherm HPR260 of the same vintage . I have had a lot of headaches and had to replace more than a few 2,000 dollar parts but for the most part it has been cheaper than a new equivalent machine(6x20 down draft table) . Boss bought it 2 yrs ago for 50k( it was complete with 2 hpr260s for dual torches, down draft filtration system, table, and Slagger - basically a dozer blade that cleans out under the table) , probably got another 10k into getting it running and repair parts, the new equivalent is probably 250k or more .

I have a small torchmate and will never ever recommend a lincoln product, I got a letter saying they are going to discontinue and stop supporting parts for it, it is a growth series table and is an entry level machine but service sucks after lincoln bought the brand. The cad software is way more complicated than others and the price of the new machine is way to high. When I get a new table I will most likely get a jd2 mad table, support for my model 54 bender has been great and everything is made in the usa. Even the electronic controls are designed and made in house, the price is really unbeatable for what you get

I also use Loctite on set screw

I’m pretty sure you have my old table, I would like to visit with you about it. I had some of the same issues with before I sold it.

Be interesting to see what is next

I can tell you a cheap fix guide rail so it stops hitting a spacer with a bearing and if you don't get it well don't know what else to say but don't waste money on something you don't need when can make something to fix what you got

Why plasma versus water jet or laser? Is it a cost issue? I work with commercial scenic shops that have CNC routers, water jets, etc. I don’t think I know of any shop that uses a plasma table

I've owned a few over the years. They all have their pros and cons. But the basic premise is just an XY controller moving around a torch. Nearly all the most "reliable" tables have you buy a Hypertherm, but they are pricey up front and their consumables aren't exactly cheap. So to me, paying in excess of $10k in today's dollars is kinda wasteful. It's no longer such a guarded secret that only the large corporations can figure out the technology, and therefore have to charge you an arm and a leg, because they claim you are getting superior components and top notch customer service. Apart from anything like maybe "ClearPath Servo Motors" there's really not much to the machines anymore. The secrets are out. You could literally make your own using Raspberry Pi board, some NEMA 23 motors, an Xbox controller. Yeah, there's lots in between that and a $40k "brand name machine" but the real results come from cut quality. Usually, that's all about the plasma unit itself and it's consumables. My first machine was by PlasmaRoute out of Oklahoma. I wanted a turn-key that was American Made. At the time it cost over $17k but I could swap it between router table and plasma. Never did. Ended up only using router table before the 2008 crash affected me to the point where I was forced to liquidate everything. But they were awesome company who really helped me get started. --- Second machine was PlasmaCam 1. Made in America 2. AWESOME Control Software 3. Servo Motors 4. Upgradable to any size, including 5x10 Cons 1. Every upgrade costs $1000 2. Closed System, Needed Forum Member Help, Customer Service Could Hardly be Bothered. 3. Shoulda just went with the Sampson 5x10 upgrade out of the gate (I also owned a smaller GoTorch by PlasmaCam... just don't... to upgrade it so it's useful you could have just got a PlasmaCam to start with) --- I should mention the machine I ALMOST bought, and would consider it seriously, if I had just a tad more shop space. GoFabCNC.com 1. I love their price, $7500 turnkey set-up 2. Made in America (Texas) 3. Wrote their own Control Software (which can be used on a tablet) 4. Have BOTH auto material sensing and Automatic Torch Height Control STANDARD. (Don't ever bother with a plasma table without at least ATHC) Cons 1. Relatively Unknown, Newish Company. (But once you have a working table dialed in, you that's really not a big deal, unless you buy a used lemon many years old) 2. Maybe lead time for building your machine (at the time that was kinda a con for me, but ultimately I decided on buying a Laser, and couldn't justify both due to lack of space) --- So what I own now for my Plasma CNC cutting capabilities is basically the ESAB Crossbow... but I didn't pay ESAB pricing. I got the the one off eBay for $1900. www.ebay.com/itm/264495324231?3053373 They are EXACTLY the same, including the control software built in, minus the ESAB sticker. Just don't let ESAB hear you say that. 1. Small Size, Big Cutting Capability. I think I can cut up to 63" x 132" with the included aluminum extrusion rails. I'm pretty sure I could buy another section if I wanted to make it go longer. 2. Build in CAM with pre-loaded shapes, like for circles, squares, flanges, bolt holes etc... all on the little screen you can do quite a bit, including nesting. 3. Again... portability. I keep it stored on top of some cabinets when not in use. Since I don't always cut plasma stuff, I've reserved that for my "thick cutting" 4. It comes with everything you need to do Oxy/Acetylene Flame Cutting as well 5. Bring Your Own Plasma Cutter. (This can be a con if you don't already have one. See below*) 6. Actually has Torch Height Control... it's only Ohmic Sensing, but still it's there, which is super important Cons 1. Made in China (even the Crossbow) 2. Can Not use Plasma Torch with High Frequency Start, Must be Pilot Arc Start Capable Only. (so that means you might have to buy another unit) 3. Must Make Your Own Table Water, or Slat Version. (However, there's nothing stopping you from just cutting over some 4x4s on the ground, it's how I did it for awhile) 4. USB stick for "Sneaker-Net" designs from your computer. And they have to be .NC files and I think maybe .dxf works too. But your design software needs to be able to create the correct file type. (I just use a free online converter sometimes if my file doesn't show up in the menu on the screen) 5. What Customer Service? There is an included email for Tech Support, I've never used it, but I have no clue how responsive they are or what they'd be able to help with. But I did only pay $1900!!

I've learned that if they are off calibration it will jar though set screws loose

I have an arclight 4x8 table, When I had to clean the pan, the first time well rubber gloves works very well, so I said never a again after I clean "the Pit" I decided to put landscaping fabric, the ones that look look mesh. layed it out on the table put everything back on , next time it came up for cleaning took out the bars wrapped up all the trash, just had to wipe it down with a lot less mess.

I have a wright CNC 4x8 "industrial". The included software is mach3, inkscape, and qcad. I pretty much only use mach 3, as for design I use fusion 360. I can tell you my setup works ok. It I have had mine since December 2019 and with other work it's mostly a hobbies table. Meaning I have not ran production. Very low hours in other words. Cons Straight out of the box the instructions for setup, suck!!! They skip steps like you are supposed to set these things up everyday. The table once squared and leveled is quite beefy, but it is a bolt together design. The water table is bolt together and is just about as simple as can be. Not too impressed with the layout of the grid. About 8"x8" opening. Not everything for shipped in the box. I was missing a cable and a small bracket neither was really an issue.the THC controller that was missing kinda sucked. They did ship that to me. The cable and bracket I sourced locally. No big deal 15$. The motion seems slow, I'm not sure if it's just bc im new but the ipm are max out at 250 on x and y. And 40 or so on z. IDK.... The powder coat sucks, but they are supposed to be doing it in house now and should solve that issue. To be fair they offered to pay to have it repowder coated. Pros Cost I got mine on sale, no freight with an 85 amp plasma hyper therm. For $13500.00 At this point even for as little as I use it. I would have bought a jd2d. For twice the price if it meant a better product. I have extra work to do to get the uncut pieces that are supposed to drop off the table. Not full cuts. Again maybe something I'm doing wrong. Support is beyond fantastic!!!! James is the only one you can get so he is super busy. But he knows his stuff!!! It does allow me to cut shapes with some level of accuracy. Not enough though!!! All in all I would not buy this again. If it wasn't for James I would still not have a working table. He is the best!!

Are you still selling the old table or will you soon?

15 years for a plasma table is good. Sure, if you want to buy a table from a major manufacturer that costs much more, it will last forever. But so many people are looking for cheap tables. There’s only so much you can do for a low price.

I ordered a Wright CNC, they have a lot of good reviews for customer service and quality. My table is supposed to ship May 20 so I haven’t quite gotten it yet, but dealing with them through the ordering process has been pretty good.

With your incredible fabrication skills, if it were me, I would redesign the drive line. Put some space between the drive rack and the frame of the table, put some protection around the pinion to keep plasma goop out of the mechanism, and upgrade the steppers to Clearpath (or other hybrid steppers) motors. Here is a great video on them. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZRURwDFvdAs.html They use step and direction signals like regular steppers and should just bolt up to the current drive system you are using. This will eliminate "loosing steps" and not knowing about it. I think it would save you a ton of money and give you a quality table

you should look up Torchmate 4800 plasma table I personally don't have it but if I was going to buy one it would be this one.

I’ll buy it 20 bucks

I had similar issues with my table, I've also fired it's ass! I'm done with plasma altogether, I've just bought a fiber laser cutter from China...

Laser

Did you end getting a table yet ?? If so what did you get

Time to step up to a laser,find a used bistronic.

MONUMENTAL.