How to Choose a CNC Plasma Cutting Table
A CNC plasma cutting table is defined less by any single specification than by how well its working area, plasma power and control match the material you cut every day. Buy for your normal work, not for the thickest plate you might cut once a year.
Table size: match your real sheet size
Working area should match your usual sheet. Buying more table than you need mostly adds floor space and cost without adding capability.
Swipe the table sideways to see all columns.
| Your sheet or plate | Table size | Our machine |
|---|---|---|
| 1220 × 2440 mm (4 × 8 ft) sheet: HVAC, cabinets, signage | 1300 × 2500 mm | P1325 |
| 1500 × 3000 mm (5 × 10 ft) plate | 1500 × 3000 mm | Industrial plasma table or P1530 |
| 2 × 4 m or 3 × 6 m plate | Gantry | G2040 or G3060 |
| Plate wider than 3 m | Heavy-duty gantry, 4–8 m | Heavy-duty gantry |
Plasma power and consumable cost
Higher current cuts thicker plate faster, but nozzles and electrodes also wear faster at high current. Size the plasma source to the thickness you cut every day; for occasional thick plate, an oxy-fuel torch is often cheaper than a much bigger plasma source. See the thickness chart for current against thickness.
Torch height control is not optional
Automatic torch height control (THC) reads the arc voltage and keeps the stand-off constant as the torch crosses warped plate. Without it, kerf width and bevel drift as the plate flatness changes, which is normal on hot-rolled plate. That is why THC is standard on our P1325, industrial table and P1530, not an add-on.
Frame and motion
Stress-relieved frame
A welded frame that has been stress-relieved stays flat and square for years of thermal cycling.
Linear guides and rack
Linear guide rails with helical rack-and-pinion give smooth, repeatable motion at speed.
Dual drive on the long axis
A motor on each side keeps the gantry square on long parts.
Stepper or servo
Steppers keep the price down for thin sheet; servos hold accuracy at high speed over a full shift.
Water table or down-draft?
A water table catches sparks and dust in water under the plate and costs less. A down-draft table pulls smoke down through zones with a fan and keeps parts dry for painting. Choose by your workshop ventilation and how the parts are finished.
Control system and software
The control decides how quickly a new operator becomes productive and how well the table fits your CAD/CAM workflow. Look for a control that imports DXF files, has a built-in shape library, and works with nesting software such as FastCAM or StarCAM. Nesting typically pays for itself within the first few larger jobs through less scrap.
Buying checklist
- Usual sheet size and the largest plate you must load
- Thickest plate you cut every day, and the material
- Plasma source brand and current; spare consumables in stock
- THC, control system and nesting software included
- Water table or down-draft table
- Your voltage and frequency (50 or 60 Hz)
- Installation, training and remote support
Ask an engineer
Send your sheet size, thickest daily plate and material, and we will recommend a table size and plasma source.