Arclight vs. Precision/CandCNC vs. Bulltear

[whiskeymike]

Has anyone created a comparison of the Arclight vs. Precision/CandCNC vs. Bulltear systems in a guide or review? I read much of the feedback on the specific providers, but most of what I've seen has not been comparing the options directly.

I'm new to all of this and trying to narrow down the path I'd like to take for getting a table.

[cbassjr]

I know everyone has their favorite table etc. I personally bought a Arclight and have had great service and felt like I got the best bang for the bucks as well as their tech support is great. Probably the swaying factor for me was their video training section and how well and easy it was to use and understand. I spent a lot of time in that section while I awaited my table. As soon as it was off the truck and setup I was cutting and haven't looked back since. So that's my two cents.

[Doc Hollywood]

They are very similar in that they use candcnc as the motion control and Mach 3, ldr just charges you less!
I am biased, I ordered an ldr 2 weeks ago and can't wait to pick it up!

[muzza]

As has been said there are many favorites and you will find a similar question asked here often but in a direct answer to your question I don't believe there has been a public comparison done here but if it were, providing it is done as an independent and fair comparison it would probably be a good thing but not necessarily conclusive to a prospective purchaser.

I'll answer what I know based on the three brands of manufacture you mention.

I have a PPC/CandCNC setup I purchased from someone who gave up on the build. Admitably it was one of their light duty kits but it has done a lot of work requiring not a lot of maintenance except the Z lifter which in my opinion was too light but I see there have been some upgrades in that area, the Cand CNCNC controls had issues at first which between Tom and myself we put down to the previous persons fault and although I didn't purchase direct from them they quickly and promptly replaced all necessary parts under warranty and included an upgrade at a much reduced price. I am also using the CandCNC kit on a current build.

A 5' Bulltear gantry kit is what I was about to order when the above became available. I was very impressed with MC and his knowledge and guidance and although I never went that direction, based on all other reports I've seen, I'm sure I would have been happy. I'll also add that of the three you mention, the Bulltear is the only one running linear rails (they weren't then )which are also on my new build and I believe set it above many others on the same playing field.

Not sure if Arclight were around when I bought my above mentioned setup but if they were I was not aware of them or I definitely would have looked at theirs based on reviews I have seen. As mentioned above their training and information videos I believe are fantastic and show evidence of their commitment and level of support they offer.

There are many brands out there and realistically only a few I have heard bad on, one in particular that doesn't need naming but I'm sure you will be more than happy with any of the three you have asked about.
Murray

[Nacs Fab]

The one thing that sands out to me on the Bulltear table is the side mount linear rail and the fact that you can load sheets without table supports in the way. I have said for years, when i build another table it will be a bulltear. MC is great wealth of info here and on Pirate4x4.com

[Brand X]

The one thing that sands out to me on the Bulltear table is the side mount linear rail and the fact that you can load sheets without table supports in the way. I have said for years, when i build another table it will be a bulltear. MC is great wealth of info here and on Pirate4x4.com

Just depends how you build it.. (Precision/CandeCNC.) it will handle 2 inch plate easy.. There are some newer high speed rails, and gantry available soon..

[Nacs Fab]

Just depends how you build it.. (Precision/CandeCNC.) it will handle 2 inch plate easy.. There are some newer high speed rails, and gantry available soon..

I definitely like the design of your table better than mine, but if you were to try to load a sheet on your table, by yourself - lets say from the side, would it not contact your precision rail that your trucks ride on? That's what i meant by the bulltear table having its rails totally out of the way. Also, what plasma unit do you have that is cutting 2" in a CNC environment? I would love to upgrade my 80 amp machine in the future.

[jimcolt]

A lot of the important factors to be considered when looking at CNC / Plasma machines will sway buyers based on their particular needs. Sometimes the biggest factor is price, and trust me....if you buy the lowest priced cnc machine...you definitely will lose something in terms of performance, reliability, cut quality, consumable life, productivity. There are over 100 worldwide manufacturers of CNC Plasma machines, about 25 of them fit into the category that I define as entry level.....this category includes machines that use an office PC or Laptop as the cnc control, and is priced near or under about $25k. Industrial machines are of heavier construction and use industrial hardened (usually PC based) CNC control, servo drives, precision linear rails (usually) and 100% duty cycle industrial plasma cutters, sometimes as many as four plasma and 16 oxy-fuel torches on one gantry.

For entry level machines...here are some things to consider:

- Cut speed range. Plasma is highly dependent on constant cut speed. Cutting too slow produces a wider kerf and dross as well as warpage on thin materials. To cover all thicknesses machines need to cut well at 5 inches per minute (IPM) to as much as 400IPM.

- Acceleration. Speed is one thing, however if the drive motors are not properly matched to the mass of the moving parts of the machine....and you are cutting intricate detail....the machine will spend much of its time at speeds below the programmed speed. Excellent acceleration will improve cut quality on thin materials where speeds are high.

- Construction. Heavily built machines are the norm for industrial grade machines as they live in a 3 shift a day environment for up to 20 years. On entry level machines it is common to improve acceleration with lighter weight designs. Heavier is not always better, unless the drive components are sized to handle the mass.

-Torch Height Control. First rule, if you plan to cut more than one part at a time...height control is necessary. Many entry level machine manufacturers offer machines with no height control....so that they can offer attractive prices. The best height controls use ohmic sensing to find the surface of the material before every cut. Other methods such as stall force or Z axis torque sensing can deflect thinner materials which can result in the torch piercing too close to the material.

-Torch height controls need to: 1. Find the surface before each cut, 2. Retract to pierce height., 3. once pierce is complete quickly index down to cut height.,4. When machine achieves cut speed activate arc voltage feedback to control cut height during cutting., 5. Retract to traverse height after cut is complete (keeps torch safe from collisions).

-Torch height: a. needs to be tied to the motion control so that when speed has to decrease (small holes, corners, intricate detail) the cnc can freeze the height to eliminate diving., b. Needs to freeze height at beginning of cut and during end of cut kerf crossing to eliminate diving.

- Software. Every machine needs CAD (computer assisted design) to draw parts to cut, needs CAM (computer assisted manufacturing) to "post process" CAD files, adding start/stop lead ins and outs, to compensate for kerf width, and to develop machine codes that determine cut path and on/off timing of plasma and height control functions. CNC machines also need internal machine control software to convert CAM output into electrical signals that determine cut speeds, direction, plasma on / off I/O signals, etc. Many entry level machines use Mach3, while others use their own proprietary machine control software

-Software for these machines often is the highest "learning curve" item. Carefully look at and try the software you are buying for your machine. I have seen many brand new machines that never get used.....as the buyer gives up on the learning curve. Some software packages (after a bit of a tutorial) are very intuitive, others are not. If concerned with this...look at turnkey manufacturers of machines that offer good one on one training in their factory, at your site, or on a direct computer to computer link online.

-Fume control. Water table or downdraft, there are pros and cons for each. Users and experts will be happy to offer advice.

-Oh Yeah. The Plasma cutter is important. These systems are not commodities, they do not all perform the same. Some offer detailed cut charts with all of the parameters required for good quality cuts on a variety of material types and thicknesses, some offer no operational info. Some are engineered for long term reliability, and come with long term factory support. The best offer a choice of consumable parts to optimize thin and thick cutting, and offer more expensive, but much longer lasting consumables. Don't scrimp here, listen to long term users on what works best.


Jim Colt Hypertherm

[suttoncnc]

As to Jim's point about the learning curve which can be very steep, I would say that any machine that operates using CANDcnc/Mach3/Sheetcam has a user base that is VERY active on the net and very willing to help. This alone would dictate my decision if I were in the market for a new table. I have a friend who invested > $20,000 for his table and it has been sitting idle for 5 years now. It has proprietary controls on it and he just simply gave up trying to learn how to operate it. Bad thing is, I cannot help him because my current machine it based on CANDcnc/Mach3/Sheetcam and I know nothing about S####n CNC controls.

Scott

[Brand X]

Just depends how you build it.. (Precision/CandeCNC.) it will handle 2 inch plate easy.. There are some newer high speed rails, and gantry available soon..

I definitely like the design of your table better than mine, but if you were to try to load a sheet on your table, by yourself - lets say from the side, would it not contact your precision rail that your trucks ride on? That's what i meant by the bulltear table having its rails totally out of the way. Also, what plasma unit do you have that is cutting 2" in a CNC environment? I would love to upgrade my 80 amp machine in the future.

I understand what you are saying.. (It's my friends table) His water table is very nice too.. $1000.00 worth of laser cut parts.. It's just built to handle 2 inch plate with zero problems. He has the right stuff to make it happen..

He alsp has a Powermax 85, and stops at .750 on MS.. Way less issues when using his gas axe, then a under powered plasma.. Lovely plasma cuts on.0500. Looks almost like it was done with my Esab 1600..