Plasma Cutters

Plasma cutters cut through metal like butter to give you a very fast cutting experience. Faster speeds and a clean finish for thin metals, tricky shapes or angles. All with less slag.We stock a great range of hand and CNC plasma cutters, are available with warranty for peace of mind.

With equipment from leading brands including Hypertherm, ESAB and Esprit. You will find a plasma cutter to suit all sizes and budgets. Browse our full range of new and refurbished plasma cutters above.

Plasma cutters are a tool that use a high-velocity jet of ionised gas, known as plasma, to cut through electrically conductive materials.

Plasma cutting is widely used in metal fabrication, construction, automotive repair, and other industries where precise and efficient cutting of metal is needed.

Yes, a plasma cutter can cut aluminium. Other cutting methods like laser cutting and waterjet cutting are also used for aluminum cutting in specific applications. The choice of cutting method depends on factors such as material thickness, required precision, and the overall project requirements.

Yes, plasma cutters are commonly used for cutting stainless steel. Stainless steel is widely used in various industries, including construction, manufacturing, and food processing, and plasma cutting is a common method for shaping and fabricating stainless steel components.

Like with other materials, it's important to follow the recommended parameters, use appropriate consumables, and ensure proper maintenance of the plasma cutter for optimal cutting performance.

Choosing the right plasma cutter depends on your specific needs, budget, and the type of work you'll be doing. Some factors to consider when selecting a plasma cutter include cutting capacity or material thickness, duty cycle, power requirements, portability, and budget.

When choosing a plasma cutter for CNC, ensure that the model you select is compatible with your plasma table and control system. Additionally, consider the level of support, availability of consumables, and the reputation of the manufacturer for providing reliable equipment.

It's important to thoroughly research and, if possible, consult with your plasma table manufacturer, or experienced users, to ensure that the plasma cutter meets the needs of your application.

Plasma cutting, like any other industrial or metalworking process, can be potentially dangerous if not performed with proper safety precautions. Risks include electric shocks, arc flash and UV radiation, noise and fumes, and fire hazard. Taking appropriate measures to mitigate these risks, like wearing appropriate PPE, using fume extraction solutions and keeping equipment properly maintained will ensure the safety of operators and the workplace.

Plasma cutters require a flow of compressed air to operate effectively. Serving functions including formation of the plasma arc, arc stability, cooling, material removal, and acting as a shielding gas.

No, you can't use a plasma cutter without gas, they need gas to produce the plasma arc. The gas that you will need depends on the material and the thickness. The most common plasma gases are compressed air, high purity air, oxygen and nitrogen.

If your plasma cutter keeps stopping during operation, here are some troubleshooting tips to check, and hopefully rectify the issue.

• Overheating - which indicates the machine has reached the limit of it's duty cycle and may need to cool off.
• Air supply issues - ensure that the flow rate and pressure are within the range specified by the manufacturer. You may also need ot check for leaks in hoses, fittings, and the torch.
• Electrical issues - make sure the plasma cutter is receiving the right voltage, and that the input power supply is stable. Check connections, cables, plugs and extension cables for damage/wear and tear.
• Consumable wear - inspect all consumables (nozzles, electrodes etc.) for signs of significant wear or damage. Replace as necessary.
• Material thickness - make sure you are not trying to cut material that is out of capacity for the plasma cutter you're using.
• Gas supply - check that the gas supply is connected properly, and that the pressure is as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Software and controls - if you have a CNC plasma cutting bed, you may have an issue with the software or control unit. Check for any error messages or software updates, and ensure all cabling is connected properly.
• Machine faults or malfunctions - if you've gone through the above steps and the issue isn't rectified, there might be an issue with the machine itself. In which case you may need to send it back to the manufacturer for repair, or seek the help of a qualified service technician.

A CNC plasma cutter, or CNC plasma cutting table, is an automated method for plasma cutting sheet metal. The plasma torch is mounted onto a carriageway above a cutting bed, and controlled by a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) unit. It is an extremely beneficial method for production plasma cutting applications, as the CNC unit can store many programmes, as well as provide maintenance and performance insights to improve efficiency.

A CNC plasma cutter works by a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) unit controlling the cutting operations. The plasma cutting table operator either inputs the parameters on the CNC unit for the current job, or chooses from a pre-stored programme, and the control unit feeds this information to the carriageway and plasma torch. It is a highly efficient process, as not only does the CNC unit store multiple programmes and jobs, but they also monitor performance and maintenance, reducing downtime and maximising productivity for plasma cutting processes.

There are some major differences when comparing CNC plasma cutting with  fibre laser cutting. Firstly, a CNC plasma table can cut up to 160mm, but best results and cut quality are usually seen around 25-40mm (1-1.5") with HD plasma. Laser however, is only suitable for thin sheet of up to 25mm.
Laser offers better accuracy than HD plasma, with an impressive 0.05mm, and CNC plasma cut parts being 0.5 - 2.2mm. Cutting speeds when fibre laser cutting thin sheet <10mm are also much faster compared to high definition plasma cutting, however thicker than 10mm, and CNC plasma cutting offers superior cut speeds.
Finally, there's the cost. A laser cutter is a much more expensive initial purchase compared to a CNC plasma table. If you're main cutting application is production cutting thin sheet metal, you can expect to break even after approx. 5 years. If you require more versatility with material and cut thickness range, an HD plasma cutter could be far more beneficial for you.