If you own a metal fabrication or machining shop, you may be noticing that more and more customers want precision components and designs cut to very specific tolerances. These customers are often very specific about their timelines, the price they can pay and other specifics of the job.
Sometimes these customers will be OEM companies or fabricators that want small to large volume orders. They may also be companies looking for a part for prototype with the anticipation of using your service if they move into the production phase.
Additionally, you may also find that if you do a lot of custom cutting more and more customers are interested in nesting types of cutting that helps them in lowering the costs of materials and also in shipping. When you start noticing these types of requests, it is time to consider adding an automated plasma cutter to your workroom floor.
Less Waste
While your original focus may be on the requests of customers, there are actually some important factors that adding this equipment can add to your business as well.
Making the initial purchase of the automated plasma cutter is going to have a cost, but you may find that it quickly pays for itself in a lot of different ways. First, and this is a big consideration, in using the CNC model there is going to be much less waste.
Even projects that require nesting, or the cutting of parts within parts to save materials and space, can be easily conceptualized through the computer program. Then, once developed the system will continually make the same cuts with extremely limited variations for high levels of efficiency and very low waste.
Better Shop Time Management
Another cost saving feature to consider with the automated plasma cutter is the automation factor. Once the program is written, staff basically just have to monitor the systems and feed material as needed.
This makes it more efficient to run the shop. It is much easier to set up production lines if other finishing or work is required on the part or component. This is particularly important if you are going to ramp up to taking larger volume orders where delivery times will be a critical factor in maintaining the contract.
The investment a plasma cutter will quickly pay for itself. Easy to operate, durable and built to perform there are a must-have item for any metal working shop or fabrication facility.
