With most tools, there are the basic ones, that just do exactly what they’re supposed to do – no more, and no less – and then there are the more sophisticated variations that do the basic job, but can also perform additional tasks, or they do the basic job at a much higher level.
When deciding which tool to choose, you shouldn’t automatically choose the high-end, most expensive tool, as you may end up paying for a whole lot of features that look and sound good, but which you don’t actually need for your particular job. You need to select the correct tool for the job you need it to do.
A metal cutting machine is no different. If you work in an industrial environment, and you need to cut metal, you have three choices open to you. Each method is the best at doing what it’s designed to do, so choose the one best suited to the job at hand.
Oxy Fuel Cutting
An oxy fuel cutter is a tried and trusted metal cutting machine that is perfectly suited to basic metal cutting work that doesn’t need a high degree of accuracy or precision. If you need to cut a metal pipe that is going to be buried under the ground, for example, oxy fuel cutting is an efficient and effective method to use.
Plasma Cutting
A plasma metal cutting machine is accurate and reliable, but it lacks the accuracy of a laser cutter. It is no good, for example, for cutting a finely detailed saw blade. It is still perfectly suited, however, to cutting many kinds of metal for a wide variety of applications. A rule of thumb in the industry is: If your cutting job can be measured with a tape measure, it can successfully be completed by a plasma cutter. If it needs a vernier, you’ll need a laser cutter.
Laser Cutting
Laser cutters can be relied on to repeat jobs with a high degree of precision. Steel up to 40mm thick, stainless steel up to 50mm thick and aluminum up to 25mm thick can be cut effectively using a laser cutting machine.
Kaufman Manufacturing Company is a respected leader in custom built, high production machining systems.
