Over the past two days, I completed the setup of my new CNC Plasma cutting machine (also see PlasmaCAM Part 1), and man is it awesome!
After physically constructing the cutting table, I needed to do a little wiring in my Hypertherm PowerMax 1000 plasma torch so that it would interface with the control box of the PlasmaCAM in order to allow the machine to turn the torch on and off. The instruction video had me really worried because it kept talking about needing to have a professional electrician install the wiring and then perform a huge batch of tests in order to ensure everything was OK.
But when it finally came to the portion of the video that deals with my plasma cutter, the instruction was all of about 10 seconds in length. This is not because the topic was not covered well, but rather because the simplicity of the install did not require more. In about 5 minutes the plasma cutter was wired up, and I summarily mounted it into the holder on the PlasmaCAM to prepare it for test cutting.
My final task, after wiring and mounting the plasma torch, was to provision a dedicated PC to handle all of the computer control functions of the system. I purchased a brand new PC to dedicate to the PCAM.
I systematically deleted all the pre-installed crap (AOL, MS Office trial, MS Works, etc.) using the Add/Remove Programs that came pre-loaded on the machine. I then installed a firewall, anti-virus software and a Linksys wireless NIC. Finally I installed the PlasmaCAM software.
Now, all of this went very smoothly with the exception of one little thing. Although the PlasmaCAM software instructed me to log into my computer’s BIOS and set the parallel port to EPP 1.9, that particular setting did not work for me. A quick call to the tech support line, however, and George had me switch the setting to SPP and everything began working immediately.
After spending a little time setting up and tweaking the machine’s settings, I was able to make a very nice cutout after only the 3rd try. I consider this quite a testament to the simplicity of the use of this machine. I had anticipated a much longer learning curve, but it seems that I’m already able to use the machine, so my loyal art fans out there will start seeing photos of new art designs I have in the works very soon!
Edit: I also added a review of the PlasmaCAM sales video which many people have found useful for separating fact from fiction.
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I am glad you are having luck with the plasma cam, I am not computer literate and I have had mine for 6 months and it sits there because I can not figure out the bool. I call teck support but they talk computer language. I can turn on a button and push buttons. The video looked like even a dummy could operate it. I guess I qualify.
I’m really sorry to hear you’ve had that experience Kenneth. That was exactly what I was afraid would happen, and in fact it’s the reason I just created another post on the subject called PlasmaCAM Video Review – Fact vs. Fiction.
Currently I’m working on creating some video tutorials about the PlasmaCAM which will begin with the basic setup of the machine and it’s various requirements and then eventually move into how to operate the software and various features.
Perhaps when I get some of those completed it might help you get some good use out of your machine. Otherwise, you might consider selling your machine on eBay. I bet you’d find a buyer very quickly…
John
Thanks for the blog, John.
I just wanted to have Kenneth Kaufmann contact me at Plasmacam if he needs help. 719-676-2701
I would be glad to give him any help that he needs by phone, or he can stop by our shop.
John, I would be glad to help you also if you have any questions.
George, Plasmacam Tech Support
Kenneth,
If you are interested in selling your unit I may be interested in a secondhand machine, I have been avoiding PlasmaCam for various reasons.
I guess mainly due to the fact that they do not have a return policy and you would have to travel to Colorado to see one work. I have asked if they could provide me with a contact local to me who is successfully using the system, but they have refused.
I also sense an attitude from the technical people their when I ask perfectly legitimate questions.
Through all this I would still risk buying one used, if the price was right.
I just refuse to put money directly in their pockets when even the presale service is so bad.
Good Luck!!!!
Roboteer
If you want to see one of the machines in action just go to the PlasmaCAM Yahoo groups I listed here and post a message.
There are users all over the place that will let you come hang out and see it in operation if you just ask nice… :-)
Hello,
It was very interesting to read your article. Could you tell me were you bought yours and how much it cost. I’d like to get one.
thank you,
Phill
Thanks Phil. I bought it direct from PlasmaCAM, which is the only place you can purchase a new one.
The table alone was about $9,500. But the torch was another $2,000, plus a PC to run it. You also need a large air compressor ($1,000), an air dryer ($300) and other miscellaneous stuff. All in all it was around $15,000.
Kenneth,
I am very intrested in a Plasma cam, however like Roboteer I can’t find one close to me that I can see in operation. I tried to go to the yahoo groups by clicking on the “here” but was unsuccessful. I would like to find someone close to South Carolina that would allow me to see their machine
Thanks, J.R
I have been looking at the Plasma cam a long time, I found them through a google seach. Have gotten there dvd, although impressive, I am not convinced that they are the way to go, because of the price ,the size of the machine and the plasma cutter they force you to use. I am leaning towards a Torchmate machine, because they give you alot more options, such as the choice of the size of machines they offer, use more than one manufacter of plasma cutter. They also offer kits so you can build your own table so you don’t have to pay for shipping on steel you could buy locally. They can talor a machine to your needs so you don’t have to spend alot of money up front, they also take care of you after the sale. You can also upgrade the machine so
Jeff,
I also looked at the Torchmates and they seem to be OK, but I think your comparison data is incorrect.
In my opinion if you need to do Plasma cutting and a 4×4 table will work, there is no better choice of machine than a PlasmaCAM. The only way I’d choose another machine is if I needed a larger table or if I was going to use it for routing as well as Plasma cutting. Currently you can’t get either of those options with the PlasmaCAM.
Finally, the purchase of any of these machines, along with all of the additional parts (compressor, torch, consumables, tips, materials, etc.) is going to mean a large expenditure. There is simply no such thing as a “cheap” route for this. Even if the PlasmaCAM were going to cost $1,000-2,000 more that should be a non-issue if the machine is going to be put to work making money. That is the equivalent of one job. And if you build something yourself or go with another machine and have an issue that leaves you out of commission you’ll quickly find that saving the money up front costs a lot more down the line.
Anyway, that’s just my opinion. If you decide to purchase a different machine I’d love to hear all about your experience with it.
Take care,
John
Well I will not argue the point with you,but you have not looked at all torchmate options such as lifetime tech support or the many different size machines they offer,not just a 4′x4′ machine. also I disagree with most of your reasoning, because I have not bought a machine yet ,you have ,so you have to justify the purchase in your own mind. But this is your blog, have fun.
Jeff,
I appreciate your respect for the fact that this is my site. Some people have ripped into me in the past in a way that was not appreciated, so thanks. However, I would encourage you to share more of your reasoning for disagreement with me because others might be thinking the same thing. If my logic is faulty then they should see why. And perhaps if I am able to better explain myself it may help you as well. Either way a healthy debate is always beneficial as long as no one is hurling insults.
I would like to clarify that I have the financial means to purchase any plasma cutting machine on the market (I don’t require ROI – this is a hobby for me). I am generally extremely meticulous when I’m making a decision of this type. And if I decide I want another machine I’ll just throw this one away and replace it.
I did look very, very closely at the Torchmate machines, and others (as I denoted here). I also tried to find one that I could go and take a look at nearby, but there isn’t a customer listed within two states of me. By comparison there are many PlasmaCAM owners within 100 miles. I also called their 800 number and discussed the machine with someone during my decision making process.
You are right that the Torchmate offers more options. If you are needing to cut tubes, do routing, use an oxy-fuel torch, or if you need a table larger than 4′x4′ the PlasmaCAM is right out to start with. But adding any/all of those makes the machine more costly and it would be a serious pain in the butt to be switching heads back and forth for one thing or another. Most people would be better served with a dedicated plasma CNC machine and a seperate machine for the other thing.
Three years of tech support vs. lifetime becomes largely irrelevant. You’ll know everything you need to know within the first few months. After three years if something is wrong it’s probably broken and you’ll be paying them for parts anyway. Plus Torchmate doesn’t have the large user groups online that PlasmaCAM has.
The Torchmate 1 system is a toy. The Torchmate 2 and 3 are the only ones that are comparable and they cost about the same amount as the PlasmaCAM unless you fabricate parts of them yourself. And if you figure that shop time is worth say $100/ hr then the 20 hours it’s going to take to finish a machine is eaten up by lost productivity with the machine. So, it will indeed come down to the features you require. If you just need to do plasma cutting, and you don’t need bigger than a 4×4 table then PlasmaCAM is the Toyota of this business. Plain, cheap and reliable. I think people need to honestly evaluate what they are going to use the machine for and whether they really need the add-ons.
Finally, check and see what the aggregate weight of any machine you’re looking at is as well as the delivery time. The entire PlasmaCAM machine is about 300 lbs which is perfect for a garage or small shop, and they can ship it the next day after you order it. Some of these other machines weigh 700-1,500 pounds, which is fine if you have a forklift and a lot of space, but not for me.
Although your natural skepticism may have initially led you to think I was trying to justify my purchase I would encourage you to consider another alternative. I already went through the purchase process you are considering and did a great deal of research including flying to another state to investigate a machine before I bought it. I was nervous about the decision at first, but it has worked out well and now I’m happy to share that info. Believe me, if you check out my reviews section you’ll see me complaining about things that haven’t gone well, and my regular readers know I don’t pull any punches.
John
I’ve just returned from Colorado for a visit with the PlasmaCam co. and a personal demonstration of their machine. Like the video, it does what they
say it will do. One thing I found out while there is they’ve just come out with a new model that accepts 5′ X 10′ stock.. It’s called “Samson”.
I think I’m going to get one. J. R.
JR,
That is awesome news! Thanks for sharing that info! I’m going to give them a call and see if I can get some more info on it.
John
Hi there,
I stumbled onto you site here looking for just this type of info. I’m seriously considering a PlasmaCam and this has been very helpful, but I still have a few questions. If I do buy one, it will be the basis of a small but full time fab shop. I’ve noticed a few people who seem to be doing this, but I’ve also gotten the impression from a few comments that this might not be the right machine if that’s the case and I’m wondering why. Maybe that 5′x10′ capability will change that. Also I’m interested to know from anyone who does operate their machine for business purposes, how do you handle pricing? Material plus hourly, per piece/job, or do you have to alternate methods based on the situation? Really any advice would be greatly appreciated. I’ve got alot of ideas already and I’m excited about this prospect, I just want to make the most educated decision I can. Thanks
Ok, I have done more research and have found another web site that will blow your socks off. But first, let me say that I do not have unlimited funds to go out and buy a Plasma Cam 4′x4′ or a Samson 5′x10′, or even a Torchmate table, I can build everything I need except for the electronics and the servo’s, And I have the time because I am not in business yet, my time is not money yet, it is a hobby. The web site I refer to sells eveything you need to run any size table you want to build, I will also say that the electronics has more power than all these other machines, and will do more. The web site is , are you ready, http://www.candcnc.com, I have talked with the person that owns the place [Tom] and he knows what he is talking about. You can buy the most exspensive kit with servo’s and software for less than $4000.00, I don’t think anyone can beat that. Well have fun, this is what I am going to do .
Actually Jeff, Tom has a great reputation so if you are so inclined to build a machine from scratch this is probably a very good way to go. It will certainly cost a lot less than a PlasmaCAM or any of it’s competitors. Especially if, as you say, time is not quite money yet. :-)
Of course, you do need to be fairly comfortable with fabrication and electronics, but if and when you complete the project I would LOVE to hear about it and see some pictures, etc.
Another advantage of building your own machine is that you can probably make it with an interchangable head so that you can use it for routing as well as plasma cutting. This is something I really wish the PCAM had.
John
I am in the same boat as alot of others here tossing between the 4X4 Torchmate and the Plasma Cam. At first it appeared the Torchmate was $2000 less than the Pcam but then discovered that the Pcam comes with auto height adjustment, it is an option on the torchmate $2400 extra which makes it actually a little over $300 more than the Pcam plus you have to supply 3/16 X 3″ flat stock for the table grid for the torchmate. It’s still a tuff call, aluminum frame vs. steel, servo vs stepper. I have spoken on the phone with people at both companies but can’t say either one has swayed or really impressed me one way or the other. I wonder if the stepper motor system can cut as detailed as the servo motor? This is very important to me as the main use of the machine for me will be art. The Pcam video is impressive but I wonder if they are using a regular plasma cutter or one of the expensive HD machines? I wonder who has the better software? I guess at this time I am leaning more toward the Pcam, I will take a few more weeks to think it out. John thanks for this page and good real life artical on the Pcam.
Ray,
It looks like you’ve discovered what I previously stated about the PCAM being roughly the same price as the competition. And now you’re debating about the steppers vs. servos. I did the same exact thing. And I really stressed about it! But when it comes right down to it neither motor type cuts better detail than the other. And the steel vs. aluminum question is even more irrelevant.
All of these motor systems are far more precise than the torch connected to the machine anyway. The kerf width is what is going to be your limiting factor. I’m not sure if you saw my other posts, but here is an example of some of the art I cut on the PCAM. It’s not all that intricate, but I have cut things that are very, very detailed and intricate. Remember, all I use my machine for is art.
And the PCAM only takes normal torches, it won’t even accomodate the HD machines. I’m using a Hypertherm 1000 unit.
As far as the software is concerned, I believe there is fairly universal agreement that the PCAM software is by far the easiest. But I’m hoping that you plan on doing your artwork in CorelDraw and then exporting it and just using the PCAM software for cutting purposes. Nothing beats Corel for art design for cutting purposes.
The bottom line is that I’ve learned that the PCAM simply does the job. As I’ve stated in the multiple posts here, it’s not a perfect machine. But once it’s set up and you’re comfortable operating it, it’s just plain reliable. You do your art design, walk out to the machine, cut your parts, and that’s it.
Hope that helps a bit. Good luck with your decision,
John
We purchased a plasma cam about 2 months ago and are having a terrible time. We were hoping to be able to do art work and parts for a local company but we have so far only cut 1 piece of art and the other one is still on the frame half cut. We are having trouble with the cutting torch staying connected and cutting. Any advice would be great. We are not the most computer smart people but really thougth we could do this. Thanks
George & Sue,
My first recommendation is to give George at PlasmaCAM a call at 719-676-2701. He is a genius and knows the answer to just about every question anyone can come up with.
If for some reason you can’t / don’t want to call George, I’m going to refer you to the PlasmaCAM Yahoo Group. You really need to join that group and I would encourage you to ask questions there.
Before you ask questions, read all of the old archives. You’ll be surprised how much you will learn from reading all the old posts.
Finally, you are going to need to be a LOT more specific about your problem. When you say the torch won’t “stay connected” I’m not sure if you mean that it won’t fire continuously, if the torch is popping off the holder, or what. I realize that you are not that technical, but you’ve got to give as much detail as possible because there are a large number of things that can go wrong.
Explain what type of material you are cutting, thickness, Plasma torch brand, Air Compressor model, and any other details you can come up with. Given all of that information you’ll likely get several responses of various things to check ranging from your air compressor output, to your grounding, to your consumables.
Take care,
John
I use a plasma cutter at work and looked into several before I settled on the Samson, PC’s new big brother. I went out to Colorado a month ago and while I was there I saw PC in action. My only problem so far is they were supposed to take a week to deliver it but they only took 3 days. Colorado to Alabama in less than 72 hours.
Grrrrr,
Grumpy
Grumpy,
Yes, I can see where that was a terrible mistake. Having to find a place to store the crate for an extra 3-4 days must have been a horrible burden… :-)
So, please tell us all about the Samson! How much does it weigh, how long did it take to assemble, how much did it cost, etc?
We’re dying to know!
John
Hi John I had sent you an email to offer to send you a doc on my findings in hunting for the right plasma cnc for me. I don’t know if you ever got it but if you would like to see please email me and I will send it to you. If you would like to share it with others you would be free to do so. Everyone that decides to buy a machine goes through the same ordeal trying to decide on which one to buy, compitition is fiearce from the companies that make them, they all want your money. The doc is only my unabiased views and findings.
Ray,
I’m very sorry. I never received your e-mail. It’s possible that it got inadvertently caught up in a spam filter, or it may just be sitting in my over-crowded inbox. I get about 1,000 messages a week (not including SPAM).
Anyway, I would love to take a look at your comparative analysis and potentially share the results with everyone to give them a jumpstart. I’d add my input and we could even solicit input from other’s as well. Communally we could probably put out a very good reference tool.
Thanks for the offer, and if you would drop me a message to john at pozadzides dot com I’ll be happy to take a look at it.
Again, sorry about missing the first message, but I appreciate your following back up!
John
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