Metal CNC Cutter

Common metal cutting methods are: grinding wheel cutting, saw cutting, flame cutting, plasma cutting, laser cutting, and waterjet cutting.

• Grinding wheel cutting

Metal is cut with a grinding wheel that rotates at high speed. It is a relatively common cutting method. The grinding wheel cutting machine is lightweight, flexible, simple and convenient, and is widely used in various occasions, especially on construction sites and interior decoration. It is mainly used to cut off some small diameter square pipes, round pipes, special-shaped pipes, etc.

• Saw cutting

The method of dividing a workpiece or material by cutting it out of a slot with a saw blade is called sawing. The sawing is carried out by means of a metal band sawing machine. Cutting up the material is the most basic requirement of metal processing, so sawing machines are the standard in the machining industry. The process of using the sawing machine needs to select the appropriate saw blade according to the hardness of the material and adjust the optimal sawing speed.

• Flame cutting (gas cutting)

The process of flame cutting is to heat the metal through a chemical reaction created by oxygen and red-hot steel, and to soften it and finally melt it. Acetylene or natural gas is used for heating gas.

Flame cutting can only cut carbon plates, and is not suitable for other types of metals, such as stainless steel or copper and aluminum.

The advantage of flame cutting is that it is low cost and can be cut up to two meters thick. The disadvantage is that the heat affected zone and thermal deformation are relatively large, and the section is rough and there are many slag hangings. Considering the subsequent processing, more margin should be placed.

• Plasma cutting

Plasma cutting method was invented in the 50s of the 20th century, which is a processing method that uses the heat of high-temperature plasma arc to partially melt (and evaporate) the metal at the incision of the workpiece, and uses the momentum of high-speed plasma to remove the molten metal to form a cut.

Plasma is generally used to cut materials with a thickness of less than 100mm. Different from flame cutting, plasma cutting speed is fast, especially when cutting ordinary carbon steel sheets, the speed can reach 5~6 times that of oxygen cutting method, and the cutting surface is smooth, the thermal deformation is small, and the heat affected zone is less. Plasma cutting is not limited to cutting carbon plates, stainless steel, copper and aluminum and nickel-titanium metals.

• Laser cutting

Laser cutting is the use of high-energy laser beams to heat, partially melt, vaporize metal, and complete the cutting of materials, usually used for efficient precision cutting of thin steel plates (<30mm).

The cutting quality of the laser is very good, not only the cutting speed is fast, the dimensional accuracy is also very high (up to ±0.05mm), and because the laser beam acts on a very small area, the heat-affected zone is very small, and the workpiece is almost not deformed.

In terms of cutting quality, laser is superior to plasma; In terms of cutting speed, plasma is faster than laser.

• Waterjet Cutting

Waterjet cutting is a precision machining process that employs ultra-high-pressure water jets to cut metallic materials. With ongoing technological advancements, abrasive particles-such as garnet and aluminum oxide-are introduced into the high-pressure water stream to enhance cutting performance. This abrasive-assisted approach significantly improves both cutting speed and maximum achievable thickness-up to 200 mm-while maintaining dimensional accuracy of ±0.4 mm or better.  

Waterjets are capable of contour-cutting virtually any material-including complex curves-in a single, uninterrupted pass. As water serves as the primary cutting medium, the process inherently eliminates thermal distortion: the high-velocity water jet rapidly dissipates heat generated during cutting, thereby avoiding heat-affected zones (HAZ). This makes waterjet cutting especially suitable for thermally sensitive applications, such as cutting thin-walled or delicate components like shells.  

In comparison with alternative thermal cutting methods including laser and waterjet cutting, plasma cutting, particularly CNC controlled plasma cutting offers exceptional cost effectiveness. 

Similarly, CNC flame cutting delivers robust performance at a highly competitive price point. Gone are the days when budget limitations necessitated compromises in cutting efficiency or quality. 

Today, both CNC plasma and CNC flame cutting systems deliver outstanding cut quality and repeatability at a fraction of the investment required for more expensive technologies-achieving results comparable to those of premium cutting solutions.

Here sample for portable type CNC plasma and flame cutting machine MS-P by Hubei Meisar CNC, it is one of the most classical and economical metal CNC cutter. It provide you small and medium metal fabrication shops with the most economical metal CNC cutter.

• Launched with economical and convenient advantages, one set price below USD1500, weight no more than 130Kg.
• Enjoys broader cutting range of 1.5*3.0m.
• Thick plate cutting upto 120mm and high applicability for kinds of metal materials of carbon steel, alloy etc and metal cutting companies.
• High-intensity, labor-saving, one machine can do jobs same with 5 workers.
• Space-saving, occupy limited space; easy move to new place.

The machine beam are crafted from high-quality aluminum alloy, making them durable, resistant to deformation, and economical. After undergoing stress-relieving treatment and surface oxidation, they provide a long-lasting and refined finish.

• Tailored Track

Offers zero-noise operation with high intensity, speed, and precision.

• User-Friendly Interface

The human-computer interface is designed for ease of use, offering comprehensive functionality that is easy to learn and operate.

• Versatile Cutting Capabilities

The machine supports both portable CNC cutting, capable of cutting carbon steel, stainless steel, and non-ferrous metals.

• CAD Compatibility

Converts CAD designs into program files that can be transferred via USB, enabling plate cutting into any desired shape.

• Dual Cutting Modes

Equipped with both flame cutting and plasma cutting options.

• Automatic Power Recovery

The machine can automatically memorize settings and restore operation after a power outage.

• Torch Height Control (THC)

Automatically adjusts the torch height based on plate variations, protecting the torch and prolonging nozzle life.

• Status Indication Device

Allows for easy monitoring of the machine's operational status.

• Enhanced Protection Features

Includes a positioning system with protection covers, proximity switches, and dual-speed functionality.

• Plasma Compatibility

Compatible with both domestic and international plasma brands.

Plasma and or flame cutting cutting way Guide:

1. Flame cutting:Suitable for cutting carbon steel, thickness more than 20mm.

2. Plasma cutting:Suitable for cutting carbon steel within 20mm,Stainless steel,aluminum or galvanized sheet etc materials; and plasma cutting cost is 1/3~1/2 of flame cutting.

Why select Hubei Meisar CNC?

High End! Professional! Create 100 Times Value for You!

Hot Tags: metal cnc cutter, China metal cnc cutter manufacturers, suppliers, factory, Portable Cnc Plasma Cutter, Cnc Plasma, Portable Cnc Flame Cutter, Steel Profile Cutting Machine, Portable Cnc Plasma Flame Cutting Machine, Portable Steel Cutting Machine