Tools, they are almost as exciting and fun as the hot rods and race cars we build with them, and like the list of cars we wish we had there is a long list of tools I wish I had as well. And I know I’m not alone. I talk to car guys and gals all the time about this or that tool or piece of equipment they wish they had in their shop, or the newest pne they bought themselves for their shop. Yes, we can build cars without a bunch of fancy tools, there is no doubt, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want the fancy tools.
But what fancy tool would you want most? My list of equipment that I want, and don’t currenty own, is long and includes sheetmetal working tools, machining tools, cutting tools, and much more. I have all kinds of things on my tools and equipment wish list, including both of the items in the question today. I wouldn’t be disappointed if Santa brought either one to me this year for Christmas, but if I had to choose one I think I know which one I’d pick.
But what about you? I realize that not everyone wants a CNC plasma table, and not everyone wants a Bridgeport Mill, whether it is CNC or manual. But you sure can make some cool stuff if you have either of these don’t you think? And yes I realize there are way fancier CNC milling machine options, but they also cost significantly more than a CNC enabled Bridgeport.
So if you had a make a choice. You could have either one, right now, and all you have to do is decide which one, then which one is it?
Would you rather have a CNC Plasma Table or a CNC Bridgeport Mill?
An old manual mill would suit me fine.
Table all day, but not a plasma. Water jet or laser.
CNC plasma table. With a rigid gantry and rack and pinion or ball screw drives it can also be used as a router for wood, plastics, foam etc… Can also adapt a laser for vector based engraving or a feeder head for 3D printing.
Yes, I’ve been thinking about this a lot.
I’d take the Bridgeport any day; even if it wasn’t CNC. You can make almost anything on it that the plasma table could make, but you can’t make half of what a milling machine would make on a plasma table. The plasma table can make some things faster, and would be a better choice if I needed some sort of 4′ x 6′ part cut out of steel plate, but I’m not running a contract manufacturing operation or building mining equipment here.
CNC plasma cutter since a manual Bridgeport miller works just fine with me.