I’ve been kicking around buying or building a plasma table for a while now. I’m a rank amateur when it comes to anything having to do with CNC controls. I have taken a couple of drafting classes over the years, but I’m guess that I’ll be re-learning whatever software I wind up using. I have a Prime Weld plasma cutter and an air compressor that’s probably too small but technically within spec to supply the cutter.

I’m seeing a ton of ads for Langmuir and Arc Droid. I’ve also looked at the JD’s Garage diy videos. Is there something else out there that I should be considering for an entry level plasma table? I'm not doing any production or anything large. I’m thinking 4’x4’ at biggest; something to mess around with in a home garage, make some parts, ornamental pieces and maybe a sign or two. It might turn into something more than that someday, but just hobby stuff for now. Assume my budget is less than “Call for Quote”.

I’d love to hear your suggestions and experiences, even with just cnc plasma in general. Talk me out of it, talk me into it, share videos, show your projects. I don’t know what I don’t know.

plasmaCam has good software and has been around for a long time.  however they are pricey and a pain in the ass to work with.  there should be better options but at our shop we are stuck with it.  my ex bought a 1000w laser and it has been a total cluster fuck to get it running correctly.  get some software-operating system with a good track history and references or its just going to be a dumpster fire.  I hope someone has a current good direction on this as I am always looking.  we run the big hypertherm torches and I would recommend them when/if you upgrade.

I bought a Langmuir table a few years ago for a project at my buisness, I made alot of cool stuff but the coolness went out when the software I use went to $350 a year from free.
It has been sitting for 6 months now.
It really was fun to own and play with, if I was retired I would mess around with it again.....alit.
Langmuir is a great entry level table, the software program is much better now but I don't have time to relearn everything.

Attached File


Attached File

Oh yeah! This is a thread I can get into.

A few years ago I built a plasma table. As big as I could to fit full sheets of steel.

It's a water table. The construction is easy peazy.

My total build cost before the plasma was about 3k

I loved the project and it still runs. I've made lots of things, and money, from it. It paid for itself the first time I used it...literally.

Plus you get to be the guy with a plasma table!

Here's my build 100% home made:

Attached File


For plasma I used the hyperther 65.  Back then it was an additional 3k. It's the most expensive shop tool I've ever purchased but welllllll worth it. Originally I started with a Chinese cutter from scamazon - do not do this!  Start with something you can be proud of and it will simplify things greatly.

With the changes in economy over the years I suspect the build would cost more now, but I'd for sure do it again.

Here are the major parts used:
Frame 2x2x1/8 square tubing.
Pan 5x12 sheet of 1/8 steel lined with 2.5x2.5 angle iron
Slats 2x1/8 flat
Rail guides: eBay from turkey
Assorted switches for homing
Cnc controller: ethernet smooth stepper
4 Drives: nema 23 eBay specials
Software: mach 4
Misc stuff like wire, cable management, electrical enclosure, computer etc...
Modeling software, and cam software: fusion 360 free
Plasma cutter hypertherm 65a

Questions? Ask!

One thing of interest is that Lasers are coming down in price.

The table and mechanics stay the same. Just the cutting device is different. The same computer can run both plasma software and the laser software.

A 1000-1500 watt fiber laser can cut about the same thickness steel. But the fiber laser can also cut wood and plastics.

I would recommend a  protective curtain that is for the light wavelength the laser is. It would be cheaper and easier than a rigid enclosure.

What thickness of mild steel can the laser cut?

Is it as affordable as a plasma table set-up? (Seems unlikely)

I have two desktop laser machines, a 40w C02 and a 20w diode.  They're cool for fine intricate work, but they are SO SLOW.  

Making business cards on aluminum blanks is agony.  We're taling over an hour per card. That's not good.

At my day job we build industrial machines and always have new lasers in house.  The new high end fiber stuff is awesome, but break out your 2nd mortgage.  The Keyence MDx system I half entertained was about 40 grand...and that's a fixed head laser too.

For all the benefits of laser, discounting the cost, there's also the fact that laser may require an assist gas depending on what it is you're cutting.  If you're going full on production laser is king, but it's expensive for the hobbyist.

I bought a fiber laser to play with at home and it rips out business cards pretty quickly.

That is amazing! This may be closer to my second setup. I’m in a 3 car garage right now, so space is limited. I’m also entirely inexperienced with CNC so I’m probably going to need a kit, or at least plans to start with.

I bought a plasma cutter before I even thought about a CNC table, so my current PrimeWeld will have to do for now.

Thanks for sharing your setup!

A guy I follow on instagram just got a Langmuir. I’m leaning toward getting the 4’x4’ pro table. It’s good to see someone have success doing similar things that I want to do.

Can you use any software with the Langmuir table? Or are you just limited to what they provide?

Mach4, Ethernet Smoothstepper and a TMC 3in1 was the controls pkg I had the best luck with, should you decide to DIY.  Using a relay to isolate the probe circuit also seems to have helped.

I'll jump in...
in 2014 I built a 5x5 plasma table in my garage. June... by December it had paid for itself through word of mouth advertising on custom sign work...
in 2016 it became my full time job by May of 2017 we were doing $150k a month in custom signage, and had 14 employees... we pulled powder coating in house...
by 2018 we had two locations. there was a rift with some employees and there were some legal issues because the finance person suddenly bought a new house and we lost all the money at that point we should have had almost a million in the bank after bills were all paid and checks started to bounce... well we didn't need them anymore... nor the IT wizard which was related...
2019 Decemberish we had A LOT of orders which were fulfilled easily... we had upgraded to a 5x10 Starlab table by that time. and were outsourcing Waterjet or laser on occasion...
2020 a downturn due to the pandemic BS, we were shut down by the County... we sneaked around to make ends meet but it was not working we were deemed not essential even though we were making parts and panels for machines that were making disinfectants...
by 2021 we were struggling. but still in biz and making signs that are totally badass. I detached from the company to save it and myself, I went back to my prior life, still in the game doing drawings for that company and another company in the local area...

Can't post pics here evidently... I am just coming back here... I am not a paying member yet.

Advice KNOW CAD before you start... I knew CAD before I started this stuff. I still learned a lot that I had never had to do in CAD before...
Learn your table and tune it all in... KNOW your equipment...

Cheap tables are generally that cheap for a reason... if you don't know how to weld or build it yourself or where to get the parts I'd recommend Starlab, or JD2, or a couple others...

@AFSOC

Good to see you on here again. Are you still in the same neck of the woods?

Thanks for sharing your experience!

If you're completely raw at CNC, you could get a cheapie CNC router off of Amazon and start cutting things out of plywood for practice.  Obviously there are differences between the tools, but a lot of the fundamentals are the same, and 1/4" plywood is LOT cheaper than 1/4" steel.  

@Adamtheduke yessir I am still in the same neck of the woods. working for the .GOV again...