Another New Plasma Person

[fabfabfab]

Hey all,

I have been lurking on this forum for awhile now and figured I would finally formally join.

I am a 1 man fab shop for mainly structural steel in northern CA and am expanding with a CNC table for signs and light production work.

Currently looking at Delusional Designs and also Wright CNC. Seems to be pros and cons for both.

If you own a Delusional Design or Wright CNC table I would appreciate a message with your feedback on how the machine has held up. Looking for 4x8.

Also, if you are selling a functional machine and are in CA or Oregon, I could be your buyer.

Thanks! Ill be around and Ill post pictures once I get everything set up.

[fabfabfab]

Also talked to Joe at Tracker and that could be an option.

[djreiswig]

Give Matt @ Bulltear a call. I think his ad is up top.

[fabfabfab]

djreiswig - Thanks for the suggestion! I would love a bulltear/starlab table but am operating on a smaller budget. I would have to sell my harley to buy that and it would be pretty bitter sweet.

I am looking to spend around 10-12kish total which is why I have some of the cheaper options listed.

Maybe in a couple of years I can stop drooling over a Arclight/Starlab/Torchmate

[djreiswig]

Others have posted about starting with a lower budget table and moving up later. Several said they wished they would have just went with the better table right off the bat. They didn't come out very well when they sold the budget table after a few years. Also, the higher end tables are more rigid and have better cut quality and higher speeds than the cheaper units.
Plus your going to pay freight twice to end up where you really want to be.

[fabfabfab]

Thanks for the input Djreiswig. I will have a second look and see what I could swing for finances. I usually have a buy once cry once mentality so the logic isnt lost on me.

Is buying used a bad deal? What are the things I should keep an eye on in the second hand market?

[acourtjester]

A few things to consider in you quest to get into CNC Plasma, are there many around your location that you may be competing with. What is the largest project/product you will be cutting. When buying used why did the owner sell, is it a table with a good reputation/service, some table have perportiory software, you can only deal with them, vice more open software. That is a big plus when gathering files or creating your own.
Under many member post are their signature which shows type/brand of table they have you may Private Message them with questions. nw better endorsement than an owner.
If you have the time build your own, you really learn which help when you have a problem, both in time and money.

[fabfabfab]

Thanks for all the help! This board has been awesome.

It looks like I just picked up a 2 year old Arclight. Used but all seems to be in good condition. Even was able to call arclight for the table's history. I pick up it tomorrow and hopefully have my first products out this coming week.

I have a fab business and currently do everything by hand. I am hoping that this will speed up my rate and earn me money through that. I am not going the sign route unless it is for friends and family.

[acourtjester]

Well congrats on the buy, it is great fun to see the projects you can add once you get working with the table. have fun

[djreiswig]

Good deal. I'm sure you will be able to increase your production with your new investment. Let us know how it works out for you.