I thought it might be interesting to find out what peaked your interest in CNC Plasma cutting.
For me, I love to create and problem solve. I have a complete wood cabinet shop in my garage. I have been making things out of wood since my 20’s. Learn some techniques from a shop teacher, my father-in-law and lots of mistakes on my own. I eventually realized that you can’t solve every problem in the world with wood.
I have made numerous trellises out of rebar. I got a lot of praise for them but they had no charm. One time I added some large 4 inch rings up and the top and that really sharpened it up. I thought, wouldn’t that be striking to have something that was actually attractive and unique that fit into the garden/nature scheme (bird, butterfly, dragonfly or fairy).
But that is not what did it for me. I wanted to make a support bracket that required four precise positioned holes about 5/16" in diameter and a large center hole that was about 3 inches and I would need it made out of 1/4" plate steel. I could come close but not accurate enough with any of the smaller holes but forget making the larger hole. For the life of me, I can’t remember what that was for so I just moved on and solved it another way.
Then I saw something on YouTube where someone, could have been one of you, acting like Luke Skywalker with a plasma torch cutting metal. I looked it up on Amazon. Hey!.. I thought “I could buy one of those for about $200 or $300.” I started researching and bought something just a bit more expensive: Hypertherm 45XP with two handheld torches.
I thought that was going to solve all my problems and fit all my needs. But the swift boot kick of reality set in. My cuts were rarely straight and never cut completely through the metal. I honestly let it sit in the garage for the next 10 months wondering if the problem was the torch or me. I finally realized that my welding skills were shrinking from passably mediocre to downright embarrassing at times. That has been linked to some shaking with movement but also some challenging eyesight issues.
Solution: Langmuir came to the rescue. And I mean it really was a true Phoenix rising from the ashes. I am now able to make great brackets and solve problems with metal that I could never do with wood or metal before. And, I found out that my plasma cutter was not defective: It could actually cut the metal all the way through and in a straight line. That first cut on the Langmuir table was a most memorable moment.
I would love to hear how some of you got into this CNC Plasma cutting. Just peel a layer away to see what avenues others have taken. Incidentally, I did a little research and for the first time found out what CNC actually meant. I know, I have just enough knowledge to hurt myself. But for the six people on this forum that don’t know, it means: Computer Numerical Control.
