Thanks for the info and advice. We are definitely going with a machine torch head and the auto height adjustment. I looked at the CG site but could not find pricing. How big a step up are we talking about?

If auto torch height adjustment is a priority, I would definitely take a second look at the Plasmacam. Their DHC2 model has the best torch control I have seen. I have been a fabricator for over 20 years and I have run both Torchmate and Plasmacam machines. In my opinion the Plasmacam is far better than the Torchmate in construction and performance. (Steel vs aluminum frame, servo moters vs steppers, better software.)

Also, with the Plasmacam you don't need to make the investment in a machine torch. The quality with a hand torch is so good that you won't be able to improve on it with the machine torch which will save a bit of money. I should also mention that the software that comes with the Plasmacam machine was quite easy to learn and use.

I have no complains about my Plasmacam machine. All of the problems I have had, turned out to be problems on my end. (The Plasmacam support staff was quite helpful in helping me track those down.) I would recommend the Plasmacam to anyone.

Thanks for the inputs. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for your setup if you don't mind me asking?

I couldn't believe how cheap the plasmacam was! The price on these things has really come down!!

Apparently this guy owns or works for the company. Especially since he won't mention price

A shop I used to work for had a C&G machine, so I was interested in getting one. I have looked and looked but I can't seem to find a definite price on them either. Then I read on a forum that they run about 50K. A little steep for me. I think I am going to look further into a Plasmacam.

Hi Ries, I am glad you brought up Mickey Mouse. The plasmacam software makes it so easy to draw perfectly round mickey ears and connect them to a perfectly proportioned mickey mouse head. I can make huge 1 inch think mickey signs or I can get really precise and make itty bitty Mickey key chains. With height control, I can even make diamond plate mickeys. Really, I can easily design & cut all the Disney characters on my plasmacam.

I would have to disagree that the torchmate is “far superior” to the plasma cam. They both have their pros and cons, but it seems to me that the plasma cam has more pros than cons. I have had my table for a couple years now and I am as pleased as pie. Also, don't completely rule out the idea of using a hand torch. If you are using it for metal art, like me, it's handy to be able to use the torch when you want that more handcrafted/rustic look.

Looks like all they sell are patterns for cutting, not the actual cutting system.

I have owned two PlasmaCams over five years. I cannot agree that they are the “toys” described earlier. I find mine to be sturdy and well built for less than industrial applications. The software is superior and easy to learn! It is just darn good!

I like the fact that the PlasmaCam uses a hand torch. It means your plasma cutter can be used in both machine and hand held applications. You can get or make a very simple torch holder that makes the hand held function much like the machine torch.

The height control works nicely.

The biggest drawback might be the 4’x 4’ table. In my case it is an advantage as my shop space is limited. I have cut hundreds of 4’x8’ sheets by simply “indexing” them. I would prefer, had I the space, to get a 4'x8' table. PlasmaCam now offers an 8’ table under a different trade name. Call ‘em as I don’t recall the name. Their support desk is now very good after some earlier problems.

Anyway, There are other good outfits offered in this class, but probably more PlasmaCams than others so they'll be around awhile. Suffice it to say I’d buy another PlasmaCam without out a seconds thought.

DumOleBob

A shop I work with a lot bought a Plasmacam unit and for what they paid for it - they could have done much better.

It can't be made any lighter or cheaper and still last for a several cuts. Keep looking!

Thanks for the input. After more research I think we are going with the Dynatorch. Seems to be better constructed and supported.

Interesting observation and I don't mean to be adversarial, but different tools come up different stress in any given shop.

All I can speak to is my personal experience at having owned, and extensively used a PlasmaCam for over five years. I've yet to have ANY issue related to it not being strong enough, not being well built, and I’ve used mine for probably over ten thousand, cuts. The software is excellent. I have always found their support to be excellent.

So there you go. Different stroke as it were, but PlasmaCam is NOT a squirrelly tool that some, with no practical hands on experience, might lead us to believe.
Bob

Thanks Bob for the input. We want all the info we can get before we take the plunge. Any thoughts or experience with Dynatorch?

hi,
not sure if dynatorch / dynaCNC are the same, but My dynaCNC witch I was very frustrated with at first, but I had never run any sort of cad or cam program and now I use correldraw9 for the cad, ha, ha, it works... and well for me. the unit came with sheetcam, that was easy to learn rite off the tutorial.
anyway no problems with the machine, I've had it a little over a year, and Ive done well over 10k cuts. and it just keeps going. I use the hypertherm powermax 1000, at first I was using my powermax 600 and HAD to upgrade (do not cheat yourself get the 1000 way less headache). also the machine torch just unplugs and your using the machine with a hand torch in seconds. and the consumables interchange.
Matt

I don't know about the other machine that you are comparing it to but I know our plasma cam works flawlessly. We were given a job by someone who has a $100k machine, his machine wasn't accurate enough to do it but our plasma cam was.

I just tried to look DynaCNC up and no luck. I read a few forums and it sounds like they are no longer in operation. Everyone is going out of business these day.

Yep, seems like a lot of business are falling. That's why I am so wary about buying a machine from a small outfit. Compared to some other small CNC plasma manufactures, plasmacam seems to be the best established. I want to make sure I won't have a problem get part or tech support in the future if I need it. That's why I will probably go with a Plasmacam.

OK Bob, come clean, you either own PlasmaCam stock or your screen name is suitable? (hey you picked it not me..)

The shop I work with had a problem with their control box - 2 times. It was sent back, returned, sent back returned etc.

The last time it failed (in 3 weeks) the drives took off and flew the gantry across the table so hard that the gantry twisted about 30 degrees. After some work with a pair of channelocks, the gantry was twisted back into shape. For the last couple of weeks it has been working better.. I guess 3 times is a charm?? But the bearings are way to small, the frame way to light. If you dropped a 1/4" plate on it from any distance at all - a bunch of stuff will bend out of shape permanently.

Before you buy one - go look at one and tell me how they could have made it any cheaper or more flimsy. I don't think it would be possible. Perhaps steel costs a lot more where these are made then they do in Midwest USA, or else the PlasmaCam dudes are just plain cheap?

I think the shop paid about $9K for the table with no PC or Plasma cutter. They could have done so much better for about the same or less cost.

But if you like the videos and think the paint is pretty - go for it. Just remember that Tonka uses heavier sheetmetal in their big dumps that my kids used to play with.. (;->)

If you have a PlasmaCam I'd sell it on Ebay and then drop your Ebay account so they can't hunt you down!

It is worthwhile to hear differing reports on such equipment, but if you feel so strongly about the PlasmaCam, why don't you put your name on your comments? Since you suggested that Bob was affiliated with PlasmaCam, it would seem only fair to ask if someone is paying *you* to make these claims and insult people like Bob who is satisfied with the machine.

You said, "If you dropped a 1/4" plate on it from any distance at all - a bunch of stuff will bend out of shape permanently."

I cannot imagine how anyone could expect a precision plotter system to withstand such abuse, regardless of manufacturer. Are you in the habit of dropping heavy plate on your plotter? That might explain some of the issues that your shop has had with its PlasmaCam.

Feel free to voice your opinion on equipment, but please don't make insulting comments about other people. ArtMetal isn't the place for that stuff.

Rich Waugh
Moderator

Rich,

You are right. I should not have pointed out that DumOleBob chose to make his screen name resemble an insulting comment. I have no idea why he chose that name..?? Any ideas?
I apologize DumOleBob.

However I feel that DumOleBob has made some serious mistakes when purchasing not one, but two Plasma Cam cutting machines.

The shop I work with is very typical of many smaller midwestern Rust Belt shops - they fab up whatever they can to generate revenue, make custom machines when possible etc. They are one of the few remaining shops that I know of that is making money.

The shop owner obtained a copy of Plama Cams video and took the hook and bought a unit. What he got differed from what he thought he was going to get. Somehow it looks much more robust in the video. The frame is lightweight steel - formed into shapes on a press brake. The light weight keeps the shipping costs down which makes sense. Beyond that, everything possible to cheapen the construction has been done. But they have clearly crossed the line between economy and junk. I can clearly state that IMO if you buy a Plasma Cam unit, you are making a big mistake. Do yourself a favor and look at one before buying it. Then send me $20 for keeping you from making a huge mistake! (;->)

Working with steel is heavy work and sometimes things get bumped and drops occur. This Plasmacam table was meant to be put to work cutting .1 to .75 steel primarily, however the table is way too flimsy. I'd very very concerned if someone put a 4x4 plate of .75 steel on the table in fear that it might collapse. Dropping a 1/4 - 4x4' plate from a couple of inches is a definite possibility. Cut enough plate and it will definitely occur. I'd be fearful that the table would simply collapse or bend out of shape if that occurred. It's that lightweight.

Here are some major deficiencies that I have discovered.

Proprietary controls - everything is sealed up. If after the warranty if you blow the control box (this shop is on #3) the cost to replace is $3500 I have been told.

The framework and gantry are pressed steel - you can flex it by hand. Not good.

Linear bearings - there are none. The slide bearings are very small - about 5/8" diameter and they ride on the edges of the pressed steel framework. I predict that they will last for less than a year around the grit and dust created by the plasma process. The engineering is very clever - it was very clever that they could make this thing work with such cheap components. Like I said - all cost has been wrung out of this table.

The table does not accommodate a machine torch - they use a goofy clamp to adapt a hand torch - it works - just don't try and adjust it afterwards - screws are behind brackets and not accessible without disassembly. I guess you could make one - but for $9K couldn't they include that?

No covers - all of the slide bearing (read little cheap bearings smaller than skate bearings) are totally exposed - also there are no covers over the belt reduction drives. The belt reduction drive bearings are also exposed. I guess that covers cost money and they were not absolutely required - so no covers.

Servo Motor - no labels on anything. If PlasmaCam goes belly up and you blow a motor - good luck finding one.

Torch height control - the plate sensor switch is a wire that hangs down from the torch height carriage and touches the plate you want to cut - better keep that wire bent in the right way or else it may not make the circuit - yes that is correct there is no switch - that would cost money and after all you only paid $9,000 dollars for your Plasma Cam right? And you expected an actual switch? Come on.....

So say you want to cut some slightly rusty steel - whoops - bare wires don't work very well on rusted steel. That's ok as the torch will smack the steel plate and keep it from running off it's tracks which are by the way - raw steel edges running on - little grooved rollers.

THC faults - torch dives into holes. If that little wire hits a hole while going down the find the surface the torch will wack the plate. The shops solution is to hang may small wires down so the chances of this happening is less.

Wire handling - The torch cables and motor cables hang from a tube that projects above the table. Simple but laying a piece of plate on the table with an overhead crane is tough, the cable hanger gets in the way - I'm sure that if Plasmacam could have gotten by with dragging the cables across the table they would have done that, but for 9K they threw in that piece of tubing so you can hang the cables up!

No provisions for a water table or ventilation. - Grab your dust mask when using this table - plasma cutting makes a lot of gritty dust and smoke. Plan on making a water table and adding ventilation!

Table grid/grate - now this is a really clever situation. The side rails support the table which is made up from laser cut sheet steel. When you burn up the table - and you want to replace the laser cut sheet steel interlocking pieces.. I'm sure that PlasmaCam will be happy to send you more for a price.

Points on the table grid - they put little points on the table so you can position your part and cut around the points. This works great until the part you cut falls out and tips on the points and the torch gets jammed on the fallen part. And when you accidentally burn off a point then you can call PlasmaCam for more laser cut sheetmetal to replace little points.

Good things about the Plasma Cam.

Paint - the paint job is really nice - no joke. I think it is powercoat and it is a nice shade of blue. If you want to buy a plasma table for a status symbol - like you're the only guy on the block with a plasma table, then this is a really good thing.

Phone - they do answer the phone so when you blow a control box or two you can send them back and get another one.

All in all the Plasma Cam unit is really a marvel. It's absolutely amazing to me that a company can make a machine like the Plasma Cam, with such flimsy components, and sell it with glitzy adds and videos for about $9K. It simply blows my mind to see such companies produce such products.

The shop owner has done a good job in kicking himself around the shop whenever the topic of the PlasmaCam comes up. His most recent comment was that he has discovered that he could have bought a "real" 4x8 plasma cutter for less than 20K. Actually he is mistaken - many are available for less than that.

I read another comment on the web about PlasmaCam tables and one guy said - you may buy one Plasmacam but you will never buy a second one...... Now I understand why.

FWIW, I am not affiliated in any way with any Plasma Cam or their competitors at this time. I do industrial control work for this particular shop and have done so for 4 years.

I invite everyone to tell me where I am wrong on any of these points.

Dave from Ohio

Now I know why I decided to just buy a plasma cutter and forget the table - I too had done lots of research on most of the brands out there only to come across other discussion forums like this particular thread where people either liked, hated, or loved the machine they use. My head was just spinning and it was too difficult to make a decision with so much different types of feedback.

Not trying to add fuel to this metal fire, but just felt like I had to confirm to myself why I decided to go the freeform way with my plasma cutter(which I finally bought! - a Miller 625) and go tableless.

Metal Momma - metal art everlasting

Dave,

Now that's the sort of post that is really useful to someone looking into getting a plasma cutter. You enumerated your objections to the PlasmaCam with detailed information that anyone can personally verify by lookng at the actual machine, and make their own decision based upon real data. Thanks!

Rich Waugh

Metal Momma.... just because it can be a little difficult to choose a good plasma table doesn't mean that plasma cutting tables are not a good idea. Even a PlasmaCam can do some nice cuts that are impossible by hand if you want to be exact. I just think that the PlasmaCam is a poorly constructed machine and is a poor choice and I'm baffled as to how they are able to sell any machines at all. I'm advantaged in that I have been working on industrial control systems, motion control, PLC, and PC based systems for over 25 years so it took me about 10 minutes to realize that the machine was poorly constructed. Compared to anything "industrial", the PlasmaCam is a joke. The PlasmaCam machine is a hobby grade machine at best.

Just keep looking, there are better machines out there for about the same price.

Dave from Ohio

First of all, thank you for your input on PlasmaCam, I work in a shop that currently uses a PlasmaCam and am considering opening my own shop. I can't speak for anyone else but the PlasmaCam we use has broken down numerous times causing us to be out of work while we wait on the replacement parts. They're version of Digital Torch Height Control is a joke and while the machine is running I am scared to look away for five minutes in fear that the two guides on the bottom are going to hit the plate and throw the whole sheet off. The machine does not take well to the grit and we have had to replace the gears on the carriage twice.

I do not know much about plasma cutting or plasma cutting tables but I do know I would never buy a PlasmaCam. Can you give me some suggestions on a plasma cutter if I want to cut about .11" stainless steel? Also, what kind of cutting table should I buy if I'm going to cut about 3 or 4 sheets of 4x4' plate a day? Sorry if my questions are hard to understand, like I said, I don't know much about plasma, just know not to get PlasmaCam.
Thanks,
Ryan

just got something in the mail from SamsonCNC.com looks like a nice plasma machine

I'm a metals teacher in Illinois, and I have to say that I feel sorry for Dave, he must have gotten a lemon. Because our students have had nothing but productive success with our machine... And i feel that after 3 years of use, lots of student abuse,and a couple thousand cuts. Our machine has since proved itself worthy of being a great investment...

Are there better machines out there on the market, Absolutely...But we like ours and have had no problems or complaints...Two of our students actually put the thing together and learned the software within a few days...So if two 16 year olds can figure out how to use the PlasmaCam, anyone can...We've even made over $2000 dollars in the past few years selling artwork in various forms...

Although I do not recommend the PlasmaCam for industrial use, there are some drawbacks.(Size and build) I have found it to be an Incredible and effective learning tool, and one that withstands student abuse over and over again...These kids love computer aided machines, and having the PlasmaCam in their learning environment has improved their awareness to where metal fabrication is going in the future...

Take it for what its worth, but customer support, the machines durability, and its incredible user friendly system, I would highly recommend the PlasmaCam to anyone...

Thank you PlasmaCam!!!

Clay