CNC Plasma Cutters & Cutting Tables for Sale

A plasma cutter is a machine that uses a high-speed jet of ionised gas to cut through conductive metals such as steel, stainless steel, and aluminium.

It works by creating an electrical arc that turns gas into plasma, which melts the metal while a high-speed jet removes the molten material.

For a complete round-up, read our comprehensive guide to plasma cutters.

Plasma cutting works by sending an electrical arc through a gas, turning it into plasma, which melts the metal while a high-speed gas jet blows the molten material away.

This process creates fast, clean cuts and is widely used in fabrication, repair, and industrial cutting applications.

Plasma cutters can cut any electrically conductive metal, including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper, and brass.

They are suitable for a wide range of applications, from thin sheet metal to thicker plate, depending on the machine’s power.

Most plasma cutters use compressed air, although some industrial plasma cutting systems use gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon-hydrogen, or specialised gas mixtures depending on the material and cutting quality required.

The correct gas setup can affect cut speed, edge quality, consumable life, and overall cutting performance. Different gases are better suited to materials such as mild steel, stainless steel, or aluminium.

For a more detailed breakdown of plasma cutting gases and their applications, read our guide to plasma cutting gases.

Plasma cutters are used for fast, precise cutting of metal in fabrication, manufacturing, automotive repair, and general metalworking.

They are ideal for cutting sheet metal, structural steel, pipework, and components where speed and accuracy are important.

A handheld plasma cutter is operated manually by the user, making it well-suited to on-site work, maintenance cutting, and jobs where flexibility and portability matter more than precision. Most handheld units are compact, single-phase machines suitable for lighter cutting tasks.

A mechanised plasma cutter is designed to be mounted onto a cutting machine; typically, a CNC table, profile cutting gantry, or pipe cutting system, where the torch movement is controlled automatically. This allows for much higher cut quality, repeatability, and productivity. Making mechanised systems the preferred choice for production environments, structural fabrication, and any application where consistent cut accuracy is important.

The key differences come down to three things: portability vs precision, cut volume, and material thickness. Handheld systems are more affordable and flexible; mechanised systems deliver better results at scale.
Most of the plasma power sources we stock, including Hypertherm and Thermal Dynamics units, are available in both hand and mechanised torch configurations. If you're unsure which suits your application, get in touch, and we can advise based on your cutting requirements.

For a full breakdown of handheld and mechanised plasma cutting (including torch configurations, gas selection, and cut quality guidance), visit our plasma cutting guide in the knowledge base.

Manual plasma cutting is controlled by the operator, while CNC plasma cutting uses computer-controlled systems for precise, automated cutting.

Hand systems are ideal for on-site or flexible work, whereas CNC plasma cutting machines are better suited for repetitive, high-precision cutting in workshop or production environments.

The cutting thickness of a plasma cutter depends on its power, with smaller units typically cutting up to 10–12mm, and industrial systems capable of cutting 50mm or more.

Higher amperage machines offer greater cutting capacity and faster cut speeds, particularly on thicker materials. When choosing a plasma cutter, select a machine that comfortably handles your typical material thickness rather than operating at maximum capacity.

The amperage you need depends primarily on the thickness of the material you'll be cutting most often.

As a general guide:

• 30–50 amps — light fabrication and thin sheet metal up to around 6mm
• 60–100 amps — general workshop cutting up to around 20mm
• 100+ amps — heavy-duty industrial cutting of thick plate above 25mm

It's worth choosing a machine that handles your typical material thickness comfortably, rather than at maximum capacity. Running a plasma cutter at its upper limit consistently will shorten consumable life and affect cut quality.
If your cutting requirements vary significantly, for example, thin stainless one day and thick mild steel the next, a mid-range machine with some headroom is usually the better investment than a unit sized exactly to your minimum needs.

For help matching amperage to your specific application, get in touch with our team — we can advise based on your materials, cut volume and budget. You can also browse our full range of plasma cutters for sale above.

To choose the right plasma cutter, consider the material type, thickness, power requirements, and whether you need manual or CNC cutting.

Key factors include:

• Material thickness – determines required amperage
• Duty cycle – important for longer cutting sessions
• Portability vs fixed setup – workshop vs site use
• Automation – CNC systems for repeatable production work

Selecting the right machine ensures efficient cutting, better cut quality, and long-term reliability.

Plasma cutters can range from around £1,000 for smaller workshop units to £20,000 + for industrial CNC plasma cutting systems.

Pricing depends on:

• Machine power and cutting capacity
• Manual vs CNC configuration
• Brand and specification level

Used and refurbished plasma cutters offer a cost-effective alternative, providing reliable performance at a lower upfront investment.

Plasma cutting is faster and more cost-effective for thicker metals, while laser cutting offers higher precision and is better suited to thinner materials and fine detail work.

Plasma systems are typically used for heavy fabrication and industrial cutting, whereas laser cutting is preferred for intricate designs and high-precision applications.

Plasma cutters use a set of consumable parts inside the torch that wear down during cutting and need to be replaced periodically. The main consumables are the electrode, nozzle, swirl ring, shield and retaining cap, though the exact set varies by brand and torch model.

Consumable life depends on how the machine is used. Frequent starts and stops, cutting at maximum capacity, and incorrect gas pressure all accelerate wear. Using the right consumables for your specific torch and cutting parameters will extend their life and maintain cut quality.

When buying a used plasma cutter, it's worth checking availability and cost for that model before purchasing, particularly for older or discontinued systems. We stock or can source consumables for the major brands we sell, including Hypertherm and Thermal Dynamics. Get in touch if you need advice on consumables for a specific machine.

Yes, plasma cutters can cut any electrically conductive metal, including mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, copper and brass. This makes them more versatile than oxyfuel cutting, which is largely limited to mild steel.

For stainless steel, nitrogen or a nitrogen/hydrogen mix is often used as the plasma gas to produce cleaner, oxide-free cut edges. For aluminium, compressed air or nitrogen works well for most applications, though higher-specification systems may use argon-hydrogen for the best cut quality on thicker material.

The key consideration is machine power — thicker sections of stainless steel and aluminium require higher amperage than equivalent mild steel, so it's worth factoring your material mix into your choice of machine.