SCORE Journal

MAKING THE CUT Lincoln Electric’s Newest Line Of CNC Plasma Cutting Tables Can Benefit Off-Road Race Teams By SCORE Journal Staff Having your own in-house CNC and plasma cutting table can make a huge difference in how off-road racers and teams can quickly manage vehicle chassis, fabrication, and repairs. This is one of the reasons why Lincoln Electric, came out with a new pair of Torchmate CNC cutting tables that give fabricators the ability to quickly create brackets and other components within minutes. The company’s new Torchmate 4400 and 4800 Cutting Tables are smaller versions of larger industrial tables. Although compact, they can provide teams the latest technology for fabricators who are serious about precision, and who can utilize this level of automation to create a variety of components. “On-board fabrication allows race team fabricators to go from an idea to an actual product within minutes,” said Jeff Knoll, Sales & Marketing Manager for Lincoln Electric Cutting Systems. “Many teams spend lots of time and money creating a bracket or chassis component, only to have it sit with a laser contractor for days. And in many instances, there are also minimum purchase requirements, which are a hassle if you only need a few pieces.” The Torchmate 4400 and 4800 tables are CNC plasma cutters that offer a high-level of precision and consistency that is much more affordable than taking items to a laser cutter contractor. The tables utilize Lincoln’s Flexcut Plasma Cutter that’s combined with a robust mechanical design that provides accurate linear motion to make precise cuts. The system utilizes Lincoln’s proprietary Virtual Machine Designer software that is simple to learn and easy to program. With two table sizes available, the 4400 (4x4) and 4800 (4x8) these tables give any in-house fabricator the ability to cut a production run within minutes. Both tables come pre-assembled and include a motion controller, plasma cutter, and durable table that requires power, water, compressed air and an installed ground rod. According to Knoll, set-up takes about 30-minutes from the time the table is delivered to your facility. The tables are also delivered completely assembled, and include water table fume extraction, slat supports, computer, CAD software, CNC controller, height control, and the magnetic torch breakaway. “We also offer a full online training course allowing you to begin learning how to operate the table before it even arrives,” said Knoll. “Lincoln Electric has also offered hands-on classes at the company’s main headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, but we are working on putting together motorsports specific classes at our facility in Reno, Nevada, sometime in 2017. These will include welding and cutting education that is centered on the needs of the motorsports industry.” “One of the other advantages to the Torchmate CNC Cutting Tables is that they can provide motorsports teams with leaner manufacturing processes,” said Knoll. “Rather than stocking large quantities of parts, you can create just enough pieces to use on the vehicle, while still having spares in the trailer and chase trucks. In addition, it also allows fabricators to push the limits of vehicle design.” While there are minor differences between laser and CNC plasma cutting, the most common being dross from low or high-speed plasma cutting, the Torchmate CNC Cutting Table software allows the fabricator to optimize cutting speeds to eliminate or minimize this effect.“With additional education offered by Lincoln Electric, any fabricator with minimal experience can make their parts look great.” For more information on the Lincoln Electric Torchmate CNC Cutting Tables, visit www.torchmate.com. SJ

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