Plasma Cutters

Plasma cutting machines for severing steel, stainless and aluminum cleanly, with a narrow kerf and a heat-affected zone far smaller than oxy-fuel leaves.

Size the machine on severance, not the headline number

Plasma cutters carry two thickness ratings, and the difference between them is where most buying errors happen. The rated cut is the thickness the machine severs cleanly at a workable travel speed, edge square enough to weld without dressing. The severance cut is the maximum it will part at all, slowly, with dross you will spend time grinding off.

Buy on the rated cut for the thickest material you regularly process. A machine bought on its severance figure disappoints on its first real day of work.

Air quality decides consumable life

Plasma runs on compressed air, and it is unforgiving about what is in it. Moisture and compressor oil carried into the torch destroy electrodes and nozzles in a fraction of their rated life and give a wandering, angled cut. A dryer and a filter at the machine cost less than one month of prematurely consumed tips.

Check your compressor's delivered CFM at the machine's required pressure, not the tank rating on the label. Insufficient volume shows up as a cut that will not sever, and it is mistaken for a machine fault more often than anything else.

Cutting on the correct standoff

Most cut-quality complaints are standoff and travel speed, not machine capability. Too fast and the arc trails and leaves top dross; too slow and it blows a wide kerf with heavy bottom dross. A drag shield or a standoff guide removes the variable entirely.

Aluminum and stainless cut well on plasma where oxy-fuel cannot touch them - plasma cuts anything that conducts.

Consumables are the running cost

Electrodes, nozzles, swirl rings, retaining caps and shields are all wear parts. We carry the full plasma consumable range alongside the machines, so a worn set is a counter visit rather than a week of downtime.

Rentals, on-site demonstrations, machine repairs and a walk-in counter in North York. Free shipping over $175 across Canada.