Linear Track Makes Plasma Cuts Neat And Simple

No microcontroller, no display, and not even an LED in sight. That’s how [Made in Poland] decided to roll with this motorized linear plasma cutter, and despite the simplicity it really gets the job done when there’s metal to be cut.

Plasma cutting makes slicing and dicing heavy stock a quick job, but it’s easy to go off course with the torch or to vary the speed and end up with a poor edge. This tool takes the shakes out of the equation with a completely homebrew linear slide fabricated from square tubing. A carriage to hold the plasma cutter torch moves on a length of threaded rod chucked into the remains of an old cordless drill. The original clutch of the drill removes the need for limit switches when the carriage hits either end of the slide, which we thought was a great touch. Simple speed and direction controls are provided, as is a connection in parallel with the torch’s trigger. One nice feature of the carriage is the ability to swivel the torch at an angle, making V-groove welds in thick stock a snap. No need for a complicated bed with sacrificial supports and a water bath, either — just hang the stock over the edge of a table and let the sparks fall where they may.

Simple is better sometimes, but a CNC plasma table may still be your heart’s desire. We understand.

4 thoughts on “Linear Track Makes Plasma Cuts Neat And Simple

  1. Reminds me of that portable ‘”CNC” plasma cutter that AvE put up last year, PLAS-MAG i think he called it. Magnetic or vacuum base, with a pair of stepper motor producing a SCARA-like movement. Could produce a variety of shapes, straight lines, curves, square cutouts etc.

    I believe he put it up think someone else could take it further and create a smartphone app or something that would make configuring it easy (i.e. no computer).

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IllVwt6CRJQ

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