Torch mate has a deal now for the 2x2 and plasma for 4799. If I read their ad correctly.
I am looking at buying a small CNC plasma table. I have been looking at the Torchmate 2X2 and the plasma cam machines. I like the torchmate size. The plasma cam doesn't look like it comes that small. Can some of the experts give me their opinions? I also have a Miller Spectrum 375 x-treme that I would like to use on the table. Will that machine work with both companies tables? I would like to stay in the $5,000 range. If anybody has other companies that they would recommend I am open for suggestions.
Torch mate has a deal now for the 2x2 and plasma for 4799. If I read their ad correctly.
I have a Torchmate 4X4 small shop machine that was a bolt together kit. Took about three hours to assemble and get cutting. The price was less than PlasmaCam and so far the customer service has been world class. If I had it to do over again I would definately go back with Torchmate. Just my .02
Bob
I'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!
Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.
Anybody got a spare set of kidneys? Trade?
Actually....if you compare the Torchmate 4 x 4 with height control (AVHC) to a PlasmaCam DHC2 4x4 (comes standard with height control)....the Torchmate is more expensive by a few dollars. The PlasmaCam is about $7200 with software and full height control functions...
I have both a PlasmaCam DHC2 and a Torchmate 2x4 with AVHC......height control is necessary if you desire best cut quality, best consumable life and automated cutting.
Jim Colt
+1 on the torch height control.
I don't think you mentioned what plasma cutter you own. Ideally you want a plasma cutter that can be mechanized... some may require the installation of a control board. Additionally, on my plasma, I had to add a tap to pickup the arc voltage which was read by the height control because output from the control board was proprietary and not what my control expected.
Forhire,
Miller spectrum 375 xtreme...
My name's not Jim....
We have a torchmate II. Torchmate is now owned by Lincoln. Lifetime tech support on the unit we have.
Miller Pro 300
68 SA 200
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Thanks... I had even re-read the OP before posting... and still missed it.
Now I'll redeem myself by doing some interface leg work...
The spectrum 375 is very much a manual machine but I did find a post on cnczone that indicates how to hook up the arc voltage and where it purchase an interface to read arc status. Looks like with a little hacking you can likely make it work
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/genera...asma_athc.html
In the cnczone post there is a link to http://www.candcnc.com/LCTHC.html which is their low cost torch height control. Have you looked at their packages? http://www.candcnc.com/BladeRunner_Dragon-Cut.html You may be able to build the table and put on their control system and stay well below your budget. And it comes with a height control. Anyone have any experience with candcnc?
The Torchmate 2x2 is the smallest cnc table you can buy. Very portable and cost effective machine. It is an excelent little machine that will do good work. Max travel speed is 150ipm. You dont need the z axis (auto height control) with the 2x2 as you can reach the manual z adjustment dial with your arm while the machine is on operation anywhere within it's range. The disadvantage is you have to sit right there and baby sit it while cutting. If you go to a 4x4 table you want auto height control cause your arm isnt long enough to raise or lower the torch manualy while the table is in operation. The torchmate 4x4 small shop machine has a max travel speed of 150ipm I believe as well. The plasma cam max travel speed is 1000ipm acording to the promo flyer I got from them.
I have a Torchmate 2x2 and have done some excelent work with it. In short order you will want a larger table for larger jobs however.
Jason
Lincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tig
Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52
Miller Bobcat 250
Torchmate CNC table
Thermal Arc Hefty 2
Ironworkers Local 720
What type of work do most of you guys with either the 2x2 Torchmate or the 4x4 Plasma Cam find yourself doing? Do you think the machine pays for itself or is it just a neat tool to have in the shop?
When I first got the PlasmaCam...I told my wife it would pay for itself in 6 months. In reality I did not have a clue if I could actually do so....but it helped to have her on my side. I did a lot of night and weekend work.....about 75% of which was mechanical components such as architectural brackets for wood frame buildings and homes as well as some metal parts for a friend of mine who has a commercial steel erection company...the rest was art in the form of signs and whatever I could dig up. I paid for the machine in just over 6 weeks.....while working my full time job as well.
I now have a Torchmate as well (2 x 4 with AVHC) and am building a homebuilt machine using a www.candcnc.com Bladerunner kit. The machines now are just more tools in my shop....I do occasional paying jobs...but mostly just hobby work as my full time job working for Hypertherm keeps me pretty busy.
My wifes car no longer fits in the garage.....
Jim Colt
Like Jim, alot of the stuff I get to do is metal signs, farm signs etc, metal art. I also manufacture some snowmobile parts of my own design for childrens snowmobiles. My daughter races childrens snowmobiles in northern MN so I have a nice little market there.
New jobs and ideas seem to come in all the time. I recently lost a $4000 job due to the small size of my 2x2 table. The person wanted many 4x2 signs manufactured but didnt want them in a welded 2 piece design like I had done before for others.
There is a large learning curve when you buy your first cnc table, cad/cam software understanding is a must. Once you get it all figured out, your only limited to how creative you want to be.
In 6 months I had my complete system paid for. Now it just makes me money every time I fire it up. Speaking of which, I have a couple of jobs to do with it right now.
I also have a full time job so my cnc time is in the evenings and weekends at home, like Jim.
Last edited by snoeproe; 01-30-2012 at 09:54 PM.
Jason
Lincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tig
Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52
Miller Bobcat 250
Torchmate CNC table
Thermal Arc Hefty 2
Ironworkers Local 720
If you dont mind doing a little fab work on your own, Look at Bulltear Industries. They sell a 4x4 kit with all electronics for roughly $5500. Its a full gantry kit so you would have to build the actual table but all the running gear and steppers/controllers are there.
http://www.bulltear.com/catalog/prod...roducts_id=240
I recommend getting a machine with at least one axis 4' long so you can put a whole sheet on there. Cutting every piece prior to putting it on the table will get old quick.
I love both tables, but can't afford anything close to it......when they come down in price ($500 or less) then i'm buying....in about 30 - 50 years.....
I have a Torchmate 2x2 with a Hypertherm powermax 45, and love it. I don't know
how I survived this long without it. I built a 2x4 water table so I could upgrade down the road without having to build another water table.
I looked at both the Torchmate, and the Plasma cam, and Torchmate was WAY easier to deal with. When I called Plasmacam for a quote, the guy on the phone acted like he could care less about me or my questions. I figured if this was how they were going to talk to a perspective customer, then customer service would probably be nonexistent once they had my money. It became a no brainer at that moment, and I have no regrets. Best money I have spent in my garage.
Miller Synchrowave 180 SD
Lincoln PowerMig 255
Hypertherm Powermax 45
Torchmate 2x2
Victor O/A
That's funny! I felt the same way except I thought that the guys over at Torchmate could care less about my needs. Plus, I tend to get awfully suspicious when the salesman that I talked to at Torchmate badmouthed competitors like they did. I got a 4x4 from Plasmacam instead. l love the machine and I love how easy the software is to use, plus you can't go wrong with Plasmacam's 3 year warranty vs Torchmate's 90 days...plain and simple.
Hap
Hi venom the table you shared here is looking great ,.
I hope the old second hand tables you easily get from the scrap yard,.
I've been building my own table for a few months, and I'm about 75% complete. I work on it when I have time. I did save a significant amount of money building my own table. If I were to do it over again I probably would buy a complete gantry, build my own table, and get a pre wired electronics kit. It takes a good bit of time to build one, or it seems like it takes a lot of time. If I had dedicated one full week to working on my table I would have been finished. I do a couple of hours here and there that's what has taken so long. There are trade offs for sure if I could have afforded a torchmate or another brand table I would have been running already. Save a little money cost you time. Spending more money gets you in business faster. I think if you get all the parts ahead of time you can build one in a week. There are several tables on ebay that are nice and economical, but you have to supply your motors and electronics which is not that big a deal.
Anybody have any experience with some of these Ebay setups?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-4-x-4-CN...item3cc772466b
Is a 4x4 unit gantry,motors, controllers, PC and demo software for $2500. Needs the stand and water table, but hell we're all fabricator's!!!
I've been spending $300 clams every time I a send a batch of parts off to the waterjet guy, it adds up quickly....
CR
You cant compare the quality of waterjet parts to plasma cut parts.
Ive run plasmacam machines and 2 different flow waterjets.
plasmacam's controllers and motors cant even come close to the precision of a waterjet or laser.
Not knocking CNC plasma tables, they have their place, just make sure you are comparing apples to apples here.
I beg to differ. It's all in the drive controls. And how well the table is set up. It's also a matter of the application. Building a part that will be fully welded egde quality is not that critical. An exposed edge may be. Personally saving $300 a trip to the waterjetters make 15 trips and you could buy a low budget plasma.
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To the op do your research. Don't look at price. Look at precision plasma and candcnc and compare them to TM and PC. I did and fell in love. Try this on for size. Call TM tell them you plan on building your own water table for a 2X4 machine, and see if they will send you prints to build from. Then do the same with precision plasma. And see who will help. For me I wanted to build the table first so I did not have to look at thousands of dollars worth of equipment while I built a table. I had my table almost done before I even ordered the gantry. Anyone who will hide behind. Once we get paid we will provide the info. Will never get my money. I wanna know what I'm getting before I buy. It's a huge investment. So take your time I spent about a year trying to decide.
Offering CNC Plasma cutting and welding projects.
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I don't believe I made a comparison??? No doubt the Waterjet is more accurate, they blow the tap drill holes for me. If it can replace 1/2 of the parts I get made, and then I could fabricate more stuff in the shop that I was either doing by hand or just not doing at all, I think it would pay for itself quickly if I could get an inexpensive unit.
I've heard horror stories about building their own units, I think the statement I heard was if you want another hobby, build a CNC gantry, if you want to use a CNC gantry for a hobby, buy a unit already built!
BTW I contacted MATZCNC from ebay last night. He gave me his cell number and we chatted via text, good guy. His units seem pretty complete, with PC and everything, minus the water table. The only draw backs I see is that all the software is demo version, so that would have to be upgraded.
CR
Last edited by ny_racer_xxx; 06-16-2012 at 08:31 AM.
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