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Plasma Cutting Service
Custom Plasma Cutting for Prototyping and Production Part Fabrication | Free Standard Shipping on All US Orders
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Custom Plasma Cutting Service
Xometry's custom plasma cutting service offers a cost-effective on-demand fabrication solution for your sheet metal needs. Thanks to our Instant Quoting Engine, we can provide instant pricing for any size fabrication run from low-volume prototyping to high-volume production. Xometry also offers a laser cutting service and a waterjet cutting service.
You can get an instant quote from a 3D CAD file or DXF file in our Instant Quoting Engine.
Plasma Cutting Materials
Materials Available at Xometry
| Aluminum | Copper | Steel |
|---|---|---|
Aluminum 5052 | Copper 101 | Stainless Steel 301 |
Copper C110 | Stainless Steel 304 | |
Copper 260 (Brass) | Stainless Steel 316/316L | |
Steel, Low Carbon |
Additional materials are available upon request! Review more information about our materials here.
Available Finishes
Standard
Minimal post-processing or treatment on parts is done.
Anodized (Type II or Type III)
Type II creates a corrosion-resistant finish. Parts can be anodized in different colors—clear, black, red, and gold are most common—and is usually associated with aluminum. Type III is thicker and creates a wear-resistant layer in addition to the corrosion resistance seen with Type II.
Powder Coat
This is a process where powdered paint is sprayed onto a part which is then baked in an oven. This creates a strong, wear- and corrosion-resistant layer that is more durable than standard painting methods. A wide variety of colors are available to create the desired aesthetic.
Chem Film (Chromate Conversion Coating)
Provides corrosion resistance and good conductivity properties. Can be used as a base for paint. Can leave surface yellow/gold.
Custom
Don’t see the finish you need? Submit an RFQ and we’ll look into a finishing process for you.
Available Types Of Plasma Cutters
2-Axis
This is the most common and conventional form of a plasma cutter and operates like any traditional CNC sheet metal fabrication tool, producing flat profiles with straight edges. These plasma cutters are best for cutting large parts from thick material quickly and are more cost-efficient than CNC laser cutters for the same work.
3-Axis
This type of CNC plasma cutter adds in an additional axis of rotation which allows the cutting tool to tilt and cut edges at an angle. This is extremely useful for cutting chamfers, countersunk holes or angled edges as part of weld preparation, which saves on secondary operations such as grinding or machining helping reduce overall cost.
Ready to get started on your plasma cutting quote?
Applications of Plasma Cutting
Blank Preparation
Plasma cutting can build near net shapes of conductive metals, making it perfect for material preparation.
Rapid Prototyping
The range of materials available, low cost per unit, and speed of production makes waterjet a great option for prototyping.
End-Use Production
Large format cutting, vast material options, and high throughput have made plasma cutting a favorable technology for end-use parts.
Advantages of Plasma Cutting
Durability
Similar to CNC machining, sheet metal processes produce highly durable parts well-suited for both functional prototypes and end-use production.
Scalability
All sheet metal parts are built on-demand and with lower setup costs compared to CNC Machining. Depending on your needs, order as little as a single prototype up to 10,000 production parts.
Material Selection
Choose from a variety of sheet metals across a wide range of strength, conductivity, weight, and corrosion resistance.
Rapid Turnaround
Combining the latest cutting, bending, and punching with automated technologies, Xometry provides instant sheet quotes and completed parts often within a week.
Plasma Cutting General Tolerances
| Description | General Tolerance |
|---|---|
Distance Dimensions | For features of size (Length, width, diameter) and location (position, concentricity, symmetry) + 0.125", -0.000 is typical. Material length and thickness may affect tolerances. |
Thickness Dimension | Thickness tolerances are determined by the material blank. |
Minimum Recommend Part Size | 1.000" |
Minimum Feature Size | 2X material thickness with a minimum of 1.000" |
Kerf (slit size) | Approximately 0.50" |
Edge Condition | Plasma edge will have vertical striations and be tapered. Upper edges may have a rounded area with top splatter. |
Please check out Xometry's Manufacturing Standards for more information on tolerances per process. Unless we have agreed to other tolerances in your Quote, we will work to achieve and hold the tolerances noted.
An Overview of Plasma Cutting
The Basics Of Plasma Cutters
Plasma cutting uses an accelerated jet of hot plasma to cut through electrically conductive materials. Plasma cutters are the fastest way to cut through gauge material up to 6" thick and are more cost-efficient to run than high-powered CNC laser cutters. Plasma cutters do their best work on large sheet metal parts, versus CNC laser cutters which are better at more detailed work and creating holes — something plasma cutters struggle with.
How Plasma Cutters Work
When energy and heat are applied to a gas, the molecules travel faster and collide more violently, turning the gas into a plasma. Using compressed air or other inert gas, the plasma is accelerated out of the cutting nozzle toward the workpiece where it completes an electrical arc with the conductive workpiece. Similar to Electrical Discharge Machines, plasma cutters use electricity to melt and cut the workpiece.
Why Use Plasma Cutting For Your Parts?
Plasma cutters are a good all-around sheet metal fabrication tools, though they lack the material cutting diversity of waterjet cutters and don’t have the precision of laser cutters. For larger sheet metal parts, plasma cutters are more cost-efficient than CNC laser cutters and can cut thicker materials easily. Plus, they are easy to operate and can cut at high speeds while maintaining precision.
Sheet metal offers a cost-effective way to fabricate product device panels, boxes and cases for a variety of applications. We build enclosures of all styles, including rackmounts, “U” and “L” shapes, as well as consoles and consolets.
Why Choose Xometry for Plasma Cutting?
Enless Options
Choose from millions of possible combinations of materials, finishes, tolerances, markings, and certifications for your order.
Easy to Use
Get your parts delivered right to your door without the hassle of sourcing, project management, logistics, or shipping.
Vetted Network
We are ISO 9001:2015 certified and AS9100D compliant. Only the top shops that apply to become Suppliers make it through our qualification process.
