Torchmate Plasma CNC Cutting System
February 19, 2012 – OK all you shade tree mechanics: here’s something I bet you don’t have in the garage (but wish you did!).
A Torchmate CNC Plasma cutting table!
I always make a point to stop by the Lincoln Electric booth at the Dealer Expo each year.
I drool over the MIG, TIG and even the old stick welding machines. One of these days, I’m going to own one (as soon as I can figure out what I’d do with it!).
This year, Lincoln Electric also had their Torchmate company products on display. Torchmate makes (relatively) inexpensive CNC plasma cutting tables.
You can own a Torchmate for as little as $2,000.00 for a 2’x2′ prototyping table. They even have a do-it-yourself kit, where you can retrofit your home-made table with a CNC plasma cutter!
Every time they turned on the 4’x4′ “Growth Series” table with water option, a crowd would form, transfixed by the fun and games (and sparks). I guess a lot of people still haven’t seen a CNC machine tool at work — I was programming them back in the very early 1980’s! — so it’s a big draw.
It also makes the weirdest slurping noise around as the gas burbles into the water underneath. Anyway, I took some video, unfortunately there was an annoying sales pitch the Torchmate guy was putting on a customer, you can even hear it over the plasma arc! More information at the Torchmate website. Enjoy…
More: 2012 Dealer Expo Live Reports
Publication Date: February 19, 2012
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