When you think of a CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) machine, you probably think of a machine with a router attached to it, capable of cutting its way through wood, metal, and a variety of other materials.
Really, a CNC machine is a generic term for a family of fabrication devices. If you change the tool head, you can change the function and often the name. Add an extrusion head, and you have a 3D printer; a swiveling razor blade and you have a vinyl, paper, or cloth cutter; or add a plasma torch and you have a CNC plasma table capable of cutting through sheets of metal.
While we have seen numerous CNC routers and 3D printers come to market, very few DIY or kit plasma tables have found their way into Makers’ hands.
CNC Router Parts took the opportunity at Maker Faire Bay Area 2015 to show off their new plasma table. The base of this — and most other plasma tables — is called a water table. It contains vertical slats of steel to hold a sheet of steel, which is then cut above a trough filled with water. This prevents damage to the rest of the machine, as well as the surface below it, from the hot jet of plasma or any molten material falling down from the cut sheet. Capable of cutting through up to ½” thick sheets of steel with safety and precision, this plasma table could open up a wide range of possibilities for Makers.
Also on display was CNC Router Parts’ new 3D printing head. Capable of attaching to any large-format CNC machine, this print head is designed for use on large format machines that will need to extrude a lot of filament to complete their tasks. While I’m sure they hope you attach this head to one of their machines, any CNC running Mach3 or 4 can be setup to work with this head.
Leave a comment below and let us know what you would make if you could precisely cut thick sheets of steel!
7 thoughts on “CNC Router Parts Unveils Their New Plasma Table”
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leonides
A couple of other functions of the water table is cooling the sheet, which limits warping on big plasma jobs, and more importantly reducing plasma fumes (yuck) by approximately 90%!
It is really good to know that there are all kinds of CNC machines that can help to fabricate metal. I had no idea that it was able to do all these different things, and that it could not only cut metal, but also things like vinyl or cloth. I would really like to look into getting one of these machines, since it seems like it is a really diverse and easy to use machine. It will be really useful to me once I figure out how to use one, because then I could work on all kinds of projects I have been wanting to do for a while! http://hargo.com.au/capabilities/cnc-machining
Great post about the new CNC plasma table unveiled at the Maker Faire. It looks really interesting. You mentioned the number of posisbilities opened-up by this new type of table. Any specifics?
Have been wanting to add plasma to my CNCRP 4896 for some time…
we have produced plasma laser machine, I think plasma cnc is also ok .
As we are Xuanlin Group and have more than 10 years experience in producing cnc router ,laser and plasma machine, now we have produced plasma and laser together machine, it is works well !show you a picture about this machine.Any question ,please feel free to contact me.
skype: sophialiu_2009