Plasma Cutting Machines for Cutting Metal to Size
Plasma cutting machines cut electrically conductive materials with a focused, extremely hot plasma jet. The gas melts the material and blows it out of the cut kerf. The process is far quicker than sawing and more economical than laser cutting once the plate gets thicker. In workshop language it is also called a plasma cutter, a plasma cutting system or a plasma cutting table. All of them mean a CNC gantry working over a cutting table. Every plasma cutting machine at KNUTH is CNC controlled, with an overview under CNC plasma cutting machines.
Plasma or Oxy-Fuel: Choosing the Process
Many fabricators weigh the plasma cutting machine against a classic oxy-fuel cutting machine. The decision rests on plate thickness and material:
- Plasma cutting: quick on thin and medium plate, clean cut edges, for steel, stainless steel and aluminium.
- Oxy-fuel cutting: the choice for very thick plate in unalloyed steel, slower but with high cutting capacity.
Several machines take an additional oxy-fuel flame head, so one gantry serves both processes and you choose the torch per job. The plate thicknesses per machine are listed in the product cards above.
Materials and Applications
Anything that conducts electricity can be cut: structural steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper and brass. On aluminium and stainless steel, gas type and nozzle decide the edge quality. Typical fields are steelwork and metal fabrication, tank construction, vehicle and trailer building, maintenance and subcontract cutting. Machines from sheet metal processing handle the folding afterwards.
How a Plasma Cutting Machine Is Built
A complete machine consists of several assemblies:
- Gantry and drives: carry the torch across the table, guideways and rigidity set the accuracy.
- Plasma source: creates the arc, its output limits the plate thickness you can cut.
- Cutting head with torch height control: holds the distance to the plate constant and prevents collisions.
- Cutting table: carries the plate and collects slag, dry with fume extraction or as a water table.
- Fume extraction and filtration: keeps smoke and dust out of the workshop, a matter of occupational safety.
The consumables are nozzle, electrode and shield cap. They shape cut quality more than most operators expect and need replacing regularly.
CNC Control, Software and Nesting
The CNC control guides the torch along the programmed contour and regulates height, ignition and cutting parameters. Programming runs through nesting software: it reads your drawings, arranges the parts on the plate and sets cutting sequence and lead-in paths. Good nesting reduces offcut and is the largest cost lever on expensive material.
Tubes, Profiles and Bevel Cutting
With a tube cutting attachment the machine also cuts tubes and profiles, for instance intersections in steelwork. A swivelling cutting head produces bevels in one operation, so separate weld preparation falls away. Dedicated machines for bending and end forming are listed under tubes and profile processing.
What Determines the Price of a Plasma Cutting Machine
We quote per configuration because the spread is wide. Cost drivers are the working area of the gantry, the output of the plasma source, an additional oxy-fuel flame head, tube and bevel attachments, and the fume extraction. Consumables, gas and electricity are added in daily use. Describe your materials, plate thicknesses and sheet formats and we will cost the right configuration.
KNUTH as a Supplier of Plasma Cutting Machines
KNUTH is an established supplier of machine tools and delivers plasma cutting machines with sources from Kjellberg and Hypertherm. Machine, control, accessories and service come from one address, with personal advice on sizing. Every machine is tested with documentation and shipped CE compliant for the European market, and the declaration of conformity comes with it. Around 1,000 machines stand permanently in our European warehouse in Wasbek, which keeps lead times short.
Service, Consumables and Spare Parts
Service runs through our own network of service technicians. Commissioning and operator instruction are offered as a separate service. For spare parts a supply guarantee of ten years applies. Nozzles, electrodes and shield caps are listed under plasma cutting consumables, further equipment under machine accessories. For specification support, reach us through the contact form.
Further Machine Categories at a Glance
Here is an overview of our machine range. Select a category to learn more about individual machines and their technical data.
