

Machines in this group usually are backed by good customer support, including live, on-screen assistance. Small shops with up to about 20 employees are the largest consumers of the machines from this category, which can handle anything from HVAC-gauge material to thick plate. Some come with excellent industrial-grade software, hardware, and drives.
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They are capable of running one to two full shifts per day continuously with little maintenance. The best systems in this group are built to work hard even the small tables can weigh up to a ton. They are engineered to perform well in demanding applications, up to and including the midindustrial market. Like the machines in the first group, they can give a lot of bang for the buck. Some would argue that this group of machines includes the best of both worlds. The second category of plasma cutting machines includes units that are priced at $60,000 or less. When you get a system from this category, it is important to use it for its intended purpose, which generally is light-duty industrial and artisan applications. They are available as complete plug-and-play systems or as kits. The first group comprises CNC plasma cutting systems that cost $25,000 or less, which have contributed greatly to the profitability of the small shops.

The price for each group is based on systems with a 5- by 10-foot or smaller cutting surface. These categories, which are organized by price, do not necessarily indicate the level of quality and performance each provides. One of these categories will have the right CNC plasma cutter for you. Knowing about the different CNC plasma cutters available to you and what they are suited for will help you make the best investment for your capabilities.įirst, you have to organize the market choices into three categories. By 2004 it was becoming a chore for the first-time buyer to sort out the increasingly wide range of prices and new models on the market. Hardware and software developers made huge contributions with new, affordable, easy-to-use products. By 2000 several progressive manufacturers had developed low-cost CNC plasma cutting systems that could run off of a PC. The process of choosing a CNC plasma cutting system is much more difficult today than it was 10 years ago, when systems were fewer but more expensive.
