New to the site and looking for a table

[Craig F]

I am interested in a table for my home shop to do both fab of parts for my farm (up to 5/8” thick) and decorative sheet metal items. Probably a 4’x4’ table.

I have recently looked at a Sector table (marketed by Praxair). Does anyone have experience with these?

Thank You,

[TJS]

Have you thought about building your own. I built my first table and would not hesitate to build another one. Others here have also built many.

[acourtjester]

Dito on build your own I've built a few and you can save a lot, plus you learn more about the table and electronics.

[Craig F]

Building my own is an interesting thought however I haven’t even operated one. Is capable software readily available? What is the cost difference? Is a DIY typically as capable?

Thanks!

[robertspark]

Learning how it works when it goes wrong (and it will do) can be invaluable unless you buy a support package with it.... Which you probably won't need after the first few months.... Until it goes wrong in a couple of years... And then you do need it

Mechanical components wear and loosen over time.... Software becomes obsolete.... And may require you to upgrade.... Plus the underlying software platform may kindly install the latest and greatest security update only to render your plasma software a threat and it now ain't loading... Or you ring technical support only to find that you are now behind on your updates.... And you need to pay a couple of grand for the current software update because your software has been updated BEFORE they help you with your "simple" problem

Putting a table together all delivered in a box is great.... To get you going... But have a read of the posts on here with people asking for help because it came in a box.... And stuff now ain't working as it did when first plugged in.... And the solutions can be very simple... Simply because it came all plug and play.

Sometimes the hardware is closed shop.... And only available through the original manufacturer.... Providing they are still going and have not updated their hardware.... Rendering your machine a boat anchor!

If you are doing it as a commercial venture.... Get a proper branded table from a well established company along with a support package that includes local on-site support .... As time is money and if it ain't cutting your not earning.... Plus you'll probably have deadlines to meet with maybe late clauses, and a backlog will cost you reputation.

If your a small commercial operator... With understanding clients that the machine stopped working and it'll be a few days to sort for parts to arrive.... Learn how it works yourself as it will probably be cheaper than the support package.... Or run two tables.... Or have a spare drive and motor and bearings on hand and a cloned hard disk and maybe a second cloned pc in the cupboard and you can be back up and running within the hour.... Or if the plasma cutter dies next day delivery of a replacement one and know your nearest local supplier plus what they stock.... As you'll be buying regular consumables from them no doubt

For a hobby user.... Build it yourself! Downtime doesn't matter ..... Whether it's buying cheap and buying twice or buying the wrong thing of finding out that motion controller or torch height controller or the software is not it is all it's cracked up to be and you end up buying something else
Take it as the cost of an education.... And a good education always costs money...

[Old Iron]

You can buy plans for a DIY table several places.
acourtjester (Tom) sells plans for DIY tables
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