Gantry CNC Plasma Cutting Machine for Heavy Plate
Heavy plate cutting
A wide-gantry CNC plasma and oxy-fuel cutting machine for heavy plate. Tables up to 8 m wide and 30 m long, plasma cutting from 0.5 to 50 mm, oxy-fuel for thicker carbon steel and a bevel head for weld preparation, all on one gantry.
- Cutting width
- 3–8 m
- Cutting length
- 6–30 m
- Plasma thickness
- 0.5–50 mm
- Travel speed
- 12 m/min
- Bevel
- up to 45°
See it cutting
The gantry plasma cutting steel plate.
What is inside
Wide-track gantry
The gantry runs on rails laid either side of the cutting table, so the bridge can span up to 8 m and the bed can be extended to 30 m. Both ends are driven by AC servo motors through rack and pinion, and the frame is stress-relieved after welding so it stays straight.
A wide track also leaves room to load plate from the side and to put two cutting tables under one gantry: one cuts while the other is loaded.
Plasma, oxy-fuel and bevel torches
One gantry carries several torches. Plasma cuts thin to medium plate fast and handles stainless steel and aluminium; oxy-fuel torches take over on very thick carbon steel, and two or more can cut identical parts at the same time.
With the bevel head option the plasma torch tilts up to 45° to cut V, Y and K weld preparations in the same pass as the part.
Automatic height control
Plasma cut quality depends on keeping the torch at the right height over plate that is never perfectly flat. Automatic torch height control reads the arc voltage and follows the plate, which keeps the bevel square and protects the consumables.
The PCL-CNC control imports drawings, nests parts and sets cutting parameters by material and thickness.
Specifications
- Cutting width
- 3,000 to 8,000 mm
- Cutting length
- 6,000 to 30,000 mm
- Plasma cutting thickness
- 0.5 to 50 mm
- Plasma source
- Hypertherm or LGK
- Torches
- Several plasma and oxy-fuel torches
- Bevel head
- Option, up to 45°
- Maximum travel speed
- 12,000 mm/min
- Drive
- Dual AC servo, rack and pinion
- Guides
- High-precision linear guides
- Height control
- Automatic torch height control
- Control
- PCL-CNC industrial control
- Frame
- Welded, stress-relieved, wide track
Width, length, plasma source and torch set are configured to your plates. Send your largest plate and thickness range and we confirm the configuration.
Plasma or oxy-fuel on the same machine
| Plate | Torch | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Thin to medium carbon steel | Plasma | Much faster than oxy-fuel, narrow heat-affected zone |
| Stainless steel and aluminium | Plasma | Oxy-fuel cannot cut them |
| Very thick carbon steel | Oxy-fuel | Low running cost; several torches cut identical parts together |
| Weld preparation | Plasma with bevel head | V, Y and K bevels in the same pass as the part |
More on bevels: plasma bevel cutting on plate.
Typical work
Gantry plasma or gantry laser?
| Your work | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Thick plate, edges welded or ground anyway, lowest machine cost | Gantry plasma |
| Plates wider than 3 m or longer than 12 m | Gantry plasma (up to 8 × 30 m) |
| Small holes, fine contours, parts that must fit without grinding | Gantry fiber laser |
| Plate plus H-beams and tube | HFT plate, tube and beam laser |
For a side-by-side of cutting processes in steel structure work, see cutting methods in steel structure construction.
FAQ
How big a plate can the gantry plasma cut?
Cutting widths from 3 to 8 m and lengths from 6 to 30 m, configured to your plates.
How thick can it cut?
Plasma cuts 0.5 to 50 mm depending on the plasma source. Oxy-fuel torches on the same gantry cut thicker carbon steel.
Can it cut weld bevels?
Yes, with the bevel head option the plasma torch tilts up to 45° for V, Y and K bevels.
Which plasma sources are used?
Hypertherm or LGK, chosen for the thickness range and budget.
