New Plasma Table Thoughts

[txwhitetail]

I have been researching plasma tables for my shop. This is my personal shop with some outside business occasionally. I am looking at the 4x4 size.

I don't want to buy cheap junk and I also don't need top end.

Any recommendations for a good table in that 4' size?

[poisonivie]

PM Ramball36 on here. He's done his homework on them.

[Ironman]

Might try a search. There were a couple of threads with good info, including brands, customer service and contact info.

[JustinJ]

I've always heard the plasma cam tables are the best for a smaller hobby table. Make sure and use a Hypertherm torch.

We've got an EZCNC 5x10 table and I have nothing but good things to say about it. I'm not sure if they make a 4x4 table but they're located in Mineola and would be worth a call. Manufactured in Texas, easy to get ahold of for questions, and they'll sell you the whole thing ready to go.

[boh347]

I've bought a used burns tables (traded a jeep for it) and had to do TONS of fitting to get it to work properly. I would not recommend them, they wanted $1200 or something for tech support on a used table. They've also go really bad reviews.
I think if I bought new I'd go with torchmate then ez plasma second.
Since Lincoln electric owns torchmate I figured they'd be around for awhile.

[JustinJ]

http://ez-plasma.com

Same company

http://lonestarcuttingsolutions.com

[txwhitetail]

I've bought a used burns tables (traded a jeep for it) and had to do TONS of fitting to get it to work properly. I would not recommend them, they wanted $1200 or something for tech support on a used table. They've also go really bad reviews.
I think if I bought new I'd go with torchmate then ez plasma second.
Since Lincoln electric owns torchmate I figured they'd be around for awhile.

Yeah definitely a lot of bad reviews on those.

[JustinJ]

[flatlander]

Koike is the best table, but they are pricy.

The lone star cutting solutions is a good one also, and more budget friendly.

Just make sure you have a Hypertherm (the best by far) or Victor (good plasma cutters with cheaper consumables).

[Ten Ring]

My buddy built his own CNC plasma with a 6' x 10' water table. Got it working so well that he even opened up a business with it. I don't remember the company that sold him the "kit" I will have to ask him. I remember it being relatively cheap and that it cuts just as good if not better then the expensive one we have here at work.

[flatlander]

^^^^

If a guy has 'skills' like that he (or she) can save a lot of money. The frame is the easy part, it just has to be pretty much perfect, but that isn't impossible.

A young man built one to enter into our local Stock show in the Ag mechanic division. He won grand champion with it. He was a Jr in High school. he now cuts small jobs for companies/people to make $$$ while he's in college.

Also---If you can go water table you will be MUCH happier in the long run. The smoke and noise are reduced significantly.

[Ramball36]

I did about a year's worth of research before we settled on an LDR Motion Systems 5x10 with water bladder. I have no complaints at all, they are built out of NY but the electronics are from a company in Dallas. The only time I had an issue which was my fault, I called their shop and spoke with the owner Daniel for almost an hour before he fixed it for me. Right before we fixed it, he had already sent an email to the guys in Dallas and instructed me to take the entire control unit down there to swap out for a new one. I can't say enough good things about those guys! The other brands I looked at seriously were TruCut and Arclight Dynamics, but ultimately went LDR for the water bladder. I would say you absolutely want a water table, especially if in a smaller shop where dust will choke you out. Look into water tables vs water bladders also, the bladder is absolutely the way to go. I can tell you to stay far away from burntables but it looks like you've already learned that.

Here's some 3/8" AR500 targets I just finished up a few minutes ago. With the 85 amp hypertherm I can cut up to 1.25" mild steel, biggest I've done is 1" and it worked great!

[flatlander]

I'd like some more info on the bladder you are talking about Ramball.

I usually have my customers build a standard water table with the 'pocket' so they can raise and lower the level as needed.

[Ramball36]

I think we're talking about the same thing, the LDR has 300 gallons of water underneath the actual cutting area, you use air pressure to push it up and out to fill the cutting area up for the cut, then release the air and the water goes back down into the bladder. Makes it really easy to pick up parts that fall down into the bed, and also lets me submerge AR plate in water to keep the torch from compromising the edges when it cuts.

[JustinJ]

I did about a year's worth of research before we settled on an LDR Motion Systems 5x10 with water bladder. I have no complaints at all, they are built out of NY but the electronics are from a company in Dallas. The only time I had an issue which was my fault, I called their shop and spoke with the owner Daniel for almost an hour before he fixed it for me. Right before we fixed it, he had already sent an email to the guys in Dallas and instructed me to take the entire control unit down there to swap out for a new one. I can't say enough good things about those guys! The other brands I looked at seriously were TruCut and Arclight Dynamics, but ultimately went LDR for the water bladder. I would say you absolutely want a water table, especially if in a smaller shop where dust will choke you out. Look into water tables vs water bladders also, the bladder is absolutely the way to go. I can tell you to stay far away from burntables but it looks like you've already learned that.

Here's some 3/8" AR500 targets I just finished up a few minutes ago. With the 85 amp hypertherm I can cut up to 1.25" mild steel, biggest I've done is 1" and it worked great!

Dang Mike I didn't know you had an 85 amp torch. I had a guy come in the other day that wanted to cut some 1" plate but I've just got the 65. I would've sent him your way.