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For rapid prototyping of flat metal plate from 20ga to 1/2 inch thick we use a computer  controlled plasma cutting table .  Necessary drawings can be made in-house by  design team or customers can provide their own Auto CAD (dxf) format drawings via email or flash drive from anywhere in the world.

If you feel creative, you can provide us with a drawing of your own. We'll turn your drawing into alpha numeric line code or "G code" that the CNC plasma cutting table can read.  We can convert hand drawings and sketches into 3D CAD drawings or CNC ready (2D) .dxf format  drawings the old fashioned way by interpreting and re-drawing them or we can convert .bitmap format scanned images such as tracings into 2D .dxf format images digitally to prepare them for conversion to G code for CNC plasma cutting. If you already have Auto CAD compatible .dxf files (such as Turbo CAD format) we can convert them directly into .dxf format cut paths and CNC ready G code reasonably quickly assuming the drawings are made with cutting in mind (i.e. stencil font lettering and contiguous images).

Can't draw you own idea with a computer? Some customers can provide professionally produced and stenciled CNC ready .dxf format digital media for conversion to G-code........but many people have no idea what all that even means. They just want a sign. For example,  Sara's sign for her husband's garden started as an idea and a hand drawn sketch that was not to scale or even finished.  We reproduced the drawing in 3D CAD and as in many cases we suggested a few changes and then made it into a 'stencil' (every part in a "male' sign like this has to touch something to stay together). As in many cases, she got to preview the finished drawing printed on paper in full scale before cutting

HOW THICK IS 14GA STEEL AND WHAT DOES A PLASMA CUT LOOK LIKE? Here you can see that 14ga steel is slightly thicker than a quarter. You can also see in both of these photos the quality of the plasma cut on a straight edge. The quality of the cut will vary with speed, difficulty of the pattern, thickness, material quality, etc.  We spent a long time tuning the machine for this particular cut and although we were still getting a little dross, or slag, we were over-all satisfied with the quality of the edge. 

WHAT ABOUT CUTTING 1/4 INCH THICK STEEL ,STAINLESS STEEL, PLATES? Yes We Can

Sample cuts in 14ga steel from the CNC Plasma cutting machine. These items are intended to give you an idea of the Sign torch clip art available and the level of detail that can or cannot be achieved with the CNC plasma.

What is the finest details that you can cut with the plasma? Using 20 gauge steel up to 1/2 inch we can cut

Can an image be enlarged? At first glance, you can hardly tell the difference between the drawing on the left and the 14

Fast Custom Metal signs. This sample sign represents our standard  usable area raw metal sign.  This sign with various sizes letters and a choice of clip art images and fonts makes a great quick economy "custom" sign. Available in unfinished steel and intended to rust, this sign lasts for decades in the harshest climates and even gets "better" with age.

LINEAR SIGNS. These make a great window sill advertising. Simply set them on the window sill inside facing outward. Linear signs are 2 or 4 inch tall letters and can be up to 8 feet long.  Most 2 inch window sill signs are 14ga steel.  Larger signs may require thicker gauge metal. Available raw, primed, or painted

DESIGN YOUR OWN CUT-OUT. we were able to identify and correct the problems before cutting.

Simple art work added to existing clip art. This is an example of some items we produced quickly using some existing art work modified slightly to fit a customer's needs.  In the case, we were able to take one of our existing products and add some simple text

How does lettering effect cutting costs? The price per unit of a particular item is based on many factors, one being the number of times the plasma cutter has to 'pierce' or start cutting. Each time a hole, letter, or area of detail is begun, the plasma torch is slightly worn or 'consumed' and the cut time is also increased because the torch pauses at the beginning of each cut in order sense the material height, calibrate to pierce height, preheat the material, and finally pierce.  On 14ga material this takes about 5 seconds per pierce. The more pierce points an item has, the longer it takes to cut and the quicker the consumables wear.

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Last modified: February 18, 2008