Need advice on purchase of new CNC Plasma Machine

[bnurenberg]

Hello

I am researching the purchase of a new CNC Plasma Machine. In the past few weeks I have learned that there are several manufactures in the U.S.A and overseas. I am leaning toward a Lincoln Torchmate 4800 series based on the website info, the recognized brand name and what appears to be a very solid machine. However spending $35K makes me want to investigate lesser cost machines.

Can you please point in the right direction? I am looking to use my Manufacturing background and networking to find work in the Sign Industry but also am looking to find sales in the local manufacturing facilities making parts with a quick turnaround.

I have no problem with used machinery and can also drive to pick it up.

Thanks in Advanced

[plasmanewbie]

Welcome to the site! There are many fine manufacturers who support this site and don''t want to let them down in a public forum. Check out all the ads at the top and bottom and good luck in your search for the perfect machine.

[djreiswig]

I'm very happy with my Bulltear table and I don't have anywhere near that much in it. It is a very solid table.

[robertspark]

..... Or build your own table.....

[TJS]

..... Or build your own table.....

^This...

[acourtjester]

Doto on DIY

[robertspark]

Just don't buy a second hand blue and yellow one (plasmacam)..... There are a lot of posts on here about 2nd 3rd 4th nth hand ones being bought only to find that support from the original manufacturer requires an upgrade of the software which costs as much as or more than the cost of the table they just purchased.

To be fair... They have a point in paying for support.... You would not buy a classic car and expect the manufacturer to provide free support and technical assistance.... But they are quite ruthless about it though....but unlike a classic car you will struggle to reuse the controller (engine) or even servo motors (drivetrain) with something else which means you bought a very expensive frame with a rack and pinion and bearings.....

I have an old CNC lathe (nearly 40 years old).... The manufacturer of them has posted all the old info they could find on their forum that they have.... Wiring diagrams, exploded views, part numbers for all components, owners manuals, training tutorials etc ... They do the same for all their other products that are no longer manufacturered as it's no loss to them as their new products sell well to schools and colleges etc.... It means there is a good market for their second hand stuff.... (And it's not a locked forum where you need a serial number to access like plasmacam)
http://www.denfordata.com/bb/
https://owners-community.com/pc/login/


As I said earlier... Consider building your own..... If you are a fabricator then it should be easy for you ....and when something stops working you'll have an idea where to look.... Contact acourtjester for plans that work and are easy to follow to just at least consider what is involved. Linuxcnc with plasmac are worth serious consideration.... If you prefer windows.... Then uccnc with an axbb-e.... Or uc300eth or uc400eth motion controller.

Please just don't spend $175 on mach3 that is no longer developed... There are much better much cheaper motion control softwares available that are integrated to operate with the motion controller that ARE supported by the community (linuxcnc+plasmac) or manufacturer (uccnc) and are designed FOR plasma with synchronous M-codes for thc and torch control.

Sheetcam tends to be the defacto plasma post processing application with a lot of YouTube walkthrough videos available and is very reasonably priced.

Torch height control..... Integrated with linuxcnc+plasmac.... With uccnc (mach3, mach4, planet CNC, masso etc) you need a thc controller.... Consider priceCNC, miniTHC and the Neuron Lite..... Please don't buy a proma SD or 150 (too slow to respond, too few features and not able to tune to different material thicknesses).


If you want to consider an integrated controller.... Then linuxcnc+plasmac+pc+Mesa hardware.... Or proma MyPlasm+pc is worth considering as is Masso+screen (but you need a thc with Masso... And I've read it's features can be limited plus it's not cheap / cost effective as there are other options more cost effective)

http://linuxcnc.org/docs/devel/html/pla ... guide.html
https://cncdrive.com/UCCNC.html
https://www.proma-elektronika.com/myplasm-cnc-system/
https://www.pricecnc.com/
https://minithc.com/
https://neuroncnc.com/products/002
https://www.masso.com.au/

https://www.sheetcam.com/

[Rodw]

A very nice summary Robert and its good to see you put LinuxCNC's Plasmac at the top of the list where it deservedly belongs.
It might be a bit premature to say something but expect to see prebuilt plasmac based controllers including configured PC, matched motor packages, and plasma tables available in the northern and southern hemispheres before long...

[robertspark]

Just axis looks antiquated... And gmoccapy is hard to modify unless you know python.... Pity there was not a clickable image based front end.... Such as uccnc has a background image and then a series of tabs with images and images that represent buttons and LEDs etc.... Similar to mach3 just wanted easier to modify


Can't please everyone... And someone will always moan

[Rodw]

Just axis looks antiquated... And gmoccapy is hard to modify unless you know python....

Yeh I agree. A sexy interface is a must!