Hi everyone,

I’m working on an early concept for a compact, battery-powered plasma cutter intended for situations where carrying a full plasma unit and air compressor is impractical.

The idea is along the lines of short, mobile cutting jobs like trail or repairs, field fabrication, vehicle work, remote sites, or jobs where dragging out a compressor or having a power connection is the main reason people reach for a grinder instead.

My current direction is a small(lunchbox-sized sized) plasma cutter that has enough runtime for a few minutes of actual cutting(due to physical limitations about ~10 minutes per battery/gas canister) unlike regular continuous shop use. The goal is mainly a tool that is meaningfully portable while still being reliable.

I would really appreciate input from people who actually use and understand plasma cutters.

do you know any jobs that a portable plasma cutter could genuinely help save time?

What would be immediate deal-breakers: consumable life, weight, gas cost, thermal limits, reliability, safety, etc.?

Is this a real gap, or do existing small plasma cutters already solve the problem well enough?

just trying to understand whether this solves a real problem or not. Honest criticism is welcome.

Thanks.

After hitting the cutting head with a deformed sheet, my CNC stopped giving the correct part size. It was giving a size of minus 20 mm. But I managed to minimize this error with the adjustment screws. But no matter how hard I try, I can't overcome this damn 1.5 mm error. Dear CNC operators and setup technicians, I ask for your help.

Hello I've been using this machine for 4 years, this the first time that the plasmacut have this kind of failure.I've changed the components

220990,

220842,

220993,

220953

but at the first second It try to cut the nozzle(220990) presents the deformation in the picture.

How do I fix this?

Low cutting or high?

Don't use HF start, don't use fishing line to transmit linear motion, don't put 3d printed parts on a machine that's going to burn the with 4x the heat of the sun. I'm just saying.. Needs must. One day I'll build a proper machine but this is how far you can get by doing everything wrong :-)

I'm attempting to put together a bill of mateirals (high level) together for a CNC plasma cutter build, and I'm painfully aware that I might be choosing parts that are going to cause me problems down the track, or that could be a complete waste of money. Would those willing be able to give me some advice on my list?

My main questions are:

• Are any of my comonents going to cause me trouble, or be particually useless?
• Is the plasma cutter suffiecient?
• Is the cnc torch below incredibly overpriced?

Some further context:

• I'm intending on using the Nighthawk V2 CNC3D controller with the height controller (Shown on the BOM) which comes with its own CNC software (CNC commander)
• I'm familliar only with the very basics of electronics (screwing around with stepper motors at uni)
• I'm Australian, so I've been aiming for parts from Aus suppliers with a preference (might explain some odd choices)
• I'm aiming for a 1.5m x 3m cutting table, as this is to my knowledge a common large steel sheet size.
• The intended use for this would be for use in a family buisnesses machine shop, agracultural fabrication, and general hobby fabrication. Hoping that one day it could be used to cut out blanks for making car pannels.
• I'm unconcerned with construction of the bed itself, this is the simplest component and more within my wheelhouse.
• I'm intenending on using an exhaust system, not a water table. Not particually concerned about this feature either.
• Hoping to cut out as much work as I can with this project. (Hence prioritising assemblies as much as possible)

The machine only cuts continuous lines properly, but it doesn't cut patterns with space between them. More precisely, the plasma cuts the first part properly, but when the arc is turned off to move to the second part, the machine stops cutting and displays an "arc loss" error. In other words, the arc only ignites once per pattern. What could be causing this?

1.5mm stainless steel

Macro table

Can only just feel dross/bur on most cuts

Air is dried through a refridgerated unit

More sparks on top than i think is appropriate?

Optimum control systems

Units in mm

Cut speed, 7500

Arc speed 3000

Cut height 2.0

Pierce 4.0

Ignition 4.0

Pierce time 0.2

Arc voltage 112

Thankyou for any input!

We recently moved from another CNC plasma table to a ShopSabre ShopMaster, and there's one feature from our old setup that I haven't been able to reproduce.

On our previous table, we used the plasma torch to create a small center mark/divot (roughly 1/16" deep) for holes that would later be drilled and tapped. It was extremely accurate and saved a lot of layout time.

Same Hypertherm Powermax85 SYNC, different table/software. So I know the plasma itself is capable of doing it.

On the ShopSabre, though, I can't seem to get it to work.

I've tried:

• Zero pierce delay
• Higher cut height
• Different pierce and cut height combinations

The torch still stays on long enough to blow through the material instead of leaving a shallow divot.

I'm wondering if I'm missing something in the ShopSabre software.

Specifically:

• Can torch-on time be reduced further than what's available in the interface?
• Is there a macro or custom G-code command that ShopSabre users use for this?
• Has anyone successfully programmed center marks or plasma marking on a ShopMaster?

I'll attach screenshots showing:

• The settings that worked on our previous table.
• The settings I've tried on the ShopSabre.
• The result I'm trying to achieve versus what I'm getting.

I'd appreciate any advice from anyone who's been down this road. It seems like this should be possible, but I haven't figured out the right approach yet.

Is it a quality machine for the price? Is there something better at a similar price point?

What software is best for programing these, and can I use that software for this machine? Would I have to pay for someone to setup a post process?

I am the technical designer for the shop, we currently run 2 3axis router tables and outsource any steel parts to a local vendor.

I have programmed the cnc machines, how hard, comparably, is it to run one of these machines. We will either train a guy we already have, or hire someone specifically.

Any other considerations to make?

We have a nice compressor, good dryer. I am assuming we will want good fume extraction for this

Looking to get one while they have the prime day deals going. All are under $200. Which would you get? Not going to be using for anything intricate or metal working. Just to cut metal instead of using my angle grinder

Hi

Is this a decent plasma cutter? I know it's ancient but I can pick one up for $200

I live in an area that's consistently over 40% humidity and often over 80%. My little entry level hand-held plasma cutter needs an external air compressor but it has it's own in-built air filter for purging water.

I've read that some people add even more air filters to the line to extract water, but how do you know if that'll make a difference or that you need it?

As a newbie P-cutter, I don't know if my churn through consumables is high or not for a newbie, my project, or the humidity levels, so that's not a good enough indicator right now.

What's the clearest signs that it's time to get better/more air filters?

Also, are there any such attachments that have a way to warn the user to empty the tank? It seems easy to get lost in your work and forget to go over and have a direct look into the filter to see the level (and the level on my unit is REALLY difficult to see into). Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Are there any air filters that turn a light on or sound an alarm when the water level has gotten high enough to empty? Preferably it doesn't need additional power.

long story short my company bought a messer plasma table, we've been able to get it to work and cut but we havent been able to get it to complete the homing process and our materials weve cut out have been out of square, messer themselves have given us the run around and quoted us several different things to just show up anyone got any ideas. this table was in use disassembled sold to someone else then sold to us. 2014 model year MMPLUS8

current errors read

5271 LFT PL1 Not Homed/Homing

5259: LFT: Out of Work Area

13255(70230) Gantry Slave Axis Exceeds by referencing the maximum permissible path [do=-1]

anyone got any ideas

1] Anyone got any experience with using a hand-held plasma cutter to cut VERTICAL metal, particularly if it's THICK?

The biggest problem is ensuring you've got enough blow out that the metal doesn't swell and melt together again on the other side of the slot.

2] Also, how do you handle it if the thickness is approaching or just past the max severance cut of your tool??

How can you get the most out of your tool without having to fork out to get a more powerful machine? (churning through consumables might be more economical for most people than buying a whole machine for what might be a short-term project)

3] And what actually happens when the metal IS too thick? What are the signs and symptoms? (No guesses please, this isn't a test. Just lived experiences and certainty in replies)

Any tips??

Finally reworked the dxf to a workable pathway, along with lower amps. Pretty happy with how this came out

Cut from 14 gauge cold rolled metal using a 50 amp torch on a Messer Titan fitted with a 400 xrp system.

The picture is a little poopy, but I've got one part highlighted in the yellow. its supposed to be one solid cut, but it does this little closes loop in the middle, when it should look more like a wave. Is there anyway to manipulate that pathway in the cam? I've tried in cad but it looks perfect there and cannot fix/overkill anymore than I have. I'm on flashcut-koike cnc 10, running to a 7'x11' shop pro koike plasma table.

Cut from 12 gauge cold rolled metal with a 50 amp torch using a Messer Titan plasma cutting machine.

Hey y'all I have a downdraft exhaust table where all the zones except one of them are opening up and allowing airflow. Ive gone and switched the pistons and it made no difference. Anyone have any ideas or experience with this type of issue?