I spent 6 months creating a CNC Plasma business...These are the expenses.

Title: How Much It Actually Cost Me to Start a CNC Plasma Business

Description: In this video, I break down the real costs of building my own CNC plasma cutting table, sharing the pros and cons of a DIY build versus buying a new table outright. I go over every detail, from materials to labor, so you get an honest look at the expenses involved. If you're thinking of building your own, this will give you a solid understanding of what's required, and whether purchasing a pre-made table might be a better option for you. Real numbers, real talk—let's dive in!

Items Used in This Video (Amazon associates links. I earn a commission if you choose to purchase these products at no extra cost to you):
Drag Chain:

Air Dryer:

1: DIN Rail kit -

2: computer monitor plug -

3: On/off switch -

4: 4 pin panel mount connector -

4.5: 2 pin panel mount connector

5: NEMA Electrical Enclosure -

6: Arduino Uno DIN Rail Mount -

7: 5V Relay -

8: Wire Ferrules Kit -

9: Ferrules Crimping Tool -

My stepper motors were purchased through stepper online. so I may have different belt/pulley sizes.

10: GT2 pulley -

11: 10mm bore 5.08mm pitch pulley -

12: GT2 Belt -

13: 10mm width x 5.08mm pitch belt -

15: Soldering Kit

16: Limit Switches

17: Arduino Uno REV3

18: Arduino Uno Panel mount Connector
Follow Me on Social Media:
• Instagram: @iamthyial
Support the Channel: If you enjoyed this video, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing. Don't forget to hit the bell icon to stay updated on my latest uploads!
Tags: CNC plasma table, DIY CNC plasma, build your own CNC, CNC plasma cutting costs, CNC table pros and cons, DIY vs buying CNC, CNC plasma cutter build, CNC plasma table breakdown, CNC plasma cost, plasma cutting table DIY, CNC plasma machine, CNC cutting table, CNC plasma build cost, DIY CNC vs buying, CNC plasma cutter pros and cons, CNC plasma setup, CNC project, CNC table budget, CNC plasma guide, building a CNC plasma

[ThyialIndustries]

If the maths aint mathing just know there was a span of 1.5 months that I was making this video... During that time i was updating the BOM with other parts... so the numbers aren't 100 percent accurate. but this will give you a very good idea of what you can expect when building your own!

[bootstrappyworkshop]

I was on this path for a year until I got a part time job that ended up consuming my life. Content creator building a DIY CNC gantry mill paying the bills as a handyman. It took four months to build the machine, another month to get it working, and then it sat because in using it I discovered that cheapening out on the bearing design had seriously limited it's accuracy to the point where I couldn't hope to produce anything worth selling. Scrapped it and started over on the design that I had wanted to build now that I had the income to afford the parts and the 3D printer to make them.... and my last update was about a year ago because my job has crushed my soul while making me dependent on a steady income and comfortable in misery. Literally the parts have been sitting there for a year in my shop waiting to be put together with just a little fabricobbling. Well, I still have to design the Z-axis, but I have the design in my head, it's just a matter of actually doing it in CAD and printing the relevant parts. THEN I am going to cut all the parts out of pink foam and cast them in aluminum. machine them, then replace any wood/plastic with metal, and tubing with solid 1045 ground shafting(sitting next to it still in the packaging). Well after I get grandpa's Logan Model 200 back together, but I genuinely am almost done with that one.


I'm looking at building a plasma table like yours after I get the 10W diode laser engraver working(it's built, just needs the 3D printer electronics hooked up), and the multi-material 3D printer for prototyping ONLY. I plan to make powder-coated steel signs. I DON'T WANT a print farm, and am looking into outsourcing it to SLANT3D using their Etsy plugin. You're absolutely correct about simply buying a working machine versus building one. There is a catch - you have to be able to afford to buy the machine. I can afford to buy a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars in parts over the span of months. I CAN'T afford the up front cost or get a loan/credit.

Point of all this rambling is that I kinda know what you're going through, you're doing better than I am (you have customers and a working machine), keep at it, I know you're going to do well.

[iheartdprinting]

If you had purchased the plasma table new, you would still be in the same position if something went wrong, and you might regret not building it yourself. Also, freaking out when something doesn’t work well can be more stressful if you didn’t build it, as you might not feel confident about how to fix it.

I agree that you incurred time and opportunity losses, but you did so while you were employed, which is fortunate (or at least it seems you were employed). However, in the future, you’ll be able to build or upgrade more tables quickly. If your business takes off, you’ll be able to scale and repair equipment rapidly, and even start hiring help, rather than piling on debt with industrial machines.

The worst scenario is buying industrial machinery that breaks down, leaving you clueless about how to fix it while customers are waiting on deadlines. At that point, you’re paying a tech to fix it, which adds even more stress. I know how it feels—I’ve been through that process myself. But the upfront time cost of taking on this project will pay off in the long run if you gain momentum.

Your point about bearings is spot on. In the future, I would definitely ditch the 3D-printed roller bearings and go for linear rails with extruded aluminum T-slots. It’s much easier to work with, faster to CAD, and overall more convenient. Of course, there’s the upfront cost of the linear rails, extrusion profiles, and bearing blocks, but it’s worth it.

Good luck, and I love your content so far!

[endoskeleton]

Awesome video my man! My thoughts are exactly the same as your end summary thoughts. The small extra cost of buying one with support will get your business going wayyy faster and put your time into growing the business. Keep up the great work!

[tname]

Honestly ... in about two months of having it up and running you could pretty much pay for the machine (machine) if you had some customer base to launch on. Then. Use the Xfire to help build the next one larger and more customized to your shop needs.

[gingetaylor]

Great video, thanks for the honest breakdown. Good luck with the businesd

[jasonhauserman-ks]

I personally think the skate bearings rolling on the frame type of design is more trouble than it is worth. The cost of actual linear rials and the ease of finding cheap one's these days is a blessing if you are a builder of your own machine. i picked up a cheap plasma cutter a few years back and wanted to build a CNC table but that project got put on the back burner. I just now have started to work on building mine since i found a deal on a straight torch. the hand torch that came with the machine was an odd size and consumables were expensive and hard to find. I would be one of those people that enjoy building something from scratch. It takes time to design and build any kind of machine but what you learn along the way is priceless IMO.

[kenrobertson]

I just had to point out... at 5:29 ferrule connectors are not meant to be used that way. Ferrules are mostly used for screw terminals. Normally the screw will kind of smash/flatten out the wire strands and can end up with a weak connection on a few stands. Ferrules give a good solid connection to lock in.

Ferrules are not intended to be soldered onto a connection. Typically the wire itself is soldered on, and ideally some heatshrink is then slide over to cover the exposed areas.

[MattysWorkshop]

Gday, fantastic video and very informative, much appreciated mate, cheers

[Dibulok]

Great video. You forgot to account for your own time searching for parts, travel to store for buying parts, build time etc etc.

[bigice]

despite everything u went through, I loved your videos and we learned a lot from you. I live in Africa Rwanda and i had ideas to start such business since real estate is booming here and providing this service can be lucrative but the cost of owning this machine is still way ahead of my time and the knowledge u had building one i don't have it but if it was something possible i would have gave it a though. i have only 1500$ on my name and building it now also is impossible from what i leaned from your videos but i am still on for the general idea start this business since i see the potential it has. looking for investors to partner with will be the deal for me. So you did well educating us on your journey that is what i wanted to say, Thank u.

[EthosAtheos]

I think you gained more than what you think by building your own. One thing you gained is an understanding of how the machine works and how to fix it. Now if you choose to you could build a 5x12 machine and have savings in the 10K +.

[MegaSoyaMan]

Thanks to share your thoughts and experience, 🙏🏾
It’s very helpful💪🏾👍🏾
It dépend what are your expectations, I know the amount of the price of Langmuir is expensive but you have the security and peace, and this have no price when you WORK with it all day.
Time is just si precious, we can’t buy it.. so 6 month is too much even you learned a lot !!
I wish you good luck for your work, you are so motivated, and I appreciate it, I am pretty sure you will have suces
🤞🏾🤞🏾

[XXEquiz]

very good information even I am already in the middle of it all. Unfortunately I don't have the mean$$ to buy everything so I am building one from parts and yes, it sucks. Having to reverse engineer something or many things just to find out how to put it back together is sad. My setup is not even at 70% but my hope is that soon Ill be able to complete the build. I am just having some connectivity issues with the controller unit.

[bricebertelsman]

East wood 4x4 verse cut 40 with machine is around 4500$ delivered

Once you put it together you’ll be cutting the next day or same day really depends if the thing shows up in the morning or afternoon

[LeonDayTrader]

Are you by chance putting out the spreadsheet with the links for your build anytime soon?

[TheJagjr]

It is nearly always less expensive in the grand scheme of things to purchase a piece of equipment outright IF you already have the business OR purchase a used one which is operating.

[jerry-]

Thanks for the video. I want a Hyperthermia but man they are crazy expensive.

[RSAP]

Any links for the improved bearings? Do the better bearings allow easy to swap out with the JD design or does that require changes in other parts to fit?

[rantiksadventure]

Thanks for this video. I was wondering how much it cost. I bought the XR from Langmuir. Just waiting to finish running electrical to my shop so I can use it.