Plasma or oxy-fuel? Cutting steel plate economically
Plasma and oxy-fuel both cut steel plate, but they are good at different jobs. Choosing the right one – and whether to put it on a CNC table – makes a big difference to cost per part.
Plasma – fast on thin and medium plate
Plasma cuts any conductive metal: mild steel, stainless and aluminium. On thin and medium plate it is several times faster than oxy-fuel, with a narrow kerf and little heat distortion. Hand-held air plasma (for example Hypertherm Powermax or APS Rhino Cut) is ideal for workshops and site. Mechanized high-definition systems (such as Hypertherm XPR or Kjellberg plasma) give near-laser edge quality for production.
Oxy-fuel – thick mild steel at low running cost
Oxy-fuel only cuts carbon steel, but it handles very thick plate, needs no electricity at the torch and the equipment is simple. Several torches on one gantry cut many parts at once, which keeps the cost per part low on heavy sections.
Why CNC
A CNC table with nesting software places parts tightly on the plate, repeats them exactly and cuts holes, bevels and markings in one set-up. Portable CNC machines are a low-cost entry; gantry machines carry plasma and oxy-fuel torches together; pipe and bevel machines prepare joints for welding.
| Need | Usually best |
|---|---|
| Sheet and plate up to medium thickness, stainless, aluminium | Plasma (air or high-definition) |
| Thick mild steel, many identical parts | Oxy-fuel, several torches |
| Weld preparation on plate edges | Bevel cutting head |
| Pipe saddles, holes, bevels | CNC pipe cutting machine |
| Very fine sheet-metal parts | Fiber laser |
Tell us your plate sizes, thicknesses and monthly tonnage and we will compare plasma, oxy-fuel and combined machines for you, with a running-cost estimate.
Planning a CNC cutting table?
Call +971 585 211 966, WhatsApp us, or add the items to your enquiry at shop.grandws.com – our engineers reply the same working day.
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