Where Do I Go From Here? - 3D Printing: Build your Own 3D Printer and Print your own 3D Objects - page 205

Plasma Cutter
The last item I want to recommend is one I do not own. I have a CNC machine, a
laser cutter, and a few 3D printers, but the plasma cutter remains one of those tools
that I'm okay with renting when I need it rather than purchasing. Let me explain.
A handheld plasma cutter is your go-to tool for when you want to cut sheet metal.
It's a dangerous tool, and there's definitely a learning curve that must be overcome
with some training. But if you're into cutting metal with extremely accurate cuts,
this is the tool you want.
Now, take the handheld plasma cutter and think about mounting it in a machine
that will let the cutter be directed along the X and Y axes, and you'll have the basic
idea of a computer-controlled plasma cutter. Software directs the movement of the
plasma cutter, allowing for finer and much more accurate cutting of sheet metal.
In Figure 11.5 , you'll see one of the most popular computer-controlled plasma
cutter frames on the market—the PlasmaCam. (Point a web browser to
www.plasmacam.com and watch a video of the tool in action; it'll blow you away.)