YOU CAN BUILD THE CNC TABLE THAT CUTS STEEL WITH A PLASMA ARC
A plasma torch melts steel and blows the molten metal out of the cut — mount it on a gantry and you can cut any shape you can draw.
by Tosh Davis
Workshop
- difficulty
- ●●●●●
- time
- several weekends
- license
- license not specified
- repo
- repo FINISHED0 stars
●●●●● · several weekends · license not specified · 0 stars · repo FINISHED
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Jump to section
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is a complete mechanical design for a CNC plasma cutting table - the third table its maker built. The files are unusually thorough: SolidWorks assembly and part files, a STEP model, DXFs for the parts, PDF drawings and templates, and an updated wiring diagram, and the video description lists the rails, steppers, drivers, supply and breakout board he used. If you have built a CNC router or mill before, this is a solid starting point. The hard part is not the files - it is the plasma cutter itself, the motion control setup, and the metalwork. You need a welder, a drill press, and enough steel to build a gantry that will not flex. The biggest trap is that there is no licence, and Tosh's website did not respond when we checked - the files live in a single shared Google Drive folder, so download them before you start planning. This is not a kit, not a tutorial, and not a project for a first CNC build. It is a set of plans for someone who already has the tools and the skills to turn drawings into a working machine.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —STEP model, SolidWorks assembly, DXF files, PDF drawings and templates, an updated wiring diagram and a parts file, all in a single Google Drive folder; the video description adds a parts list with links.
- —No licence anywhere — the maker put the plans up freely but no terms are stated, so treat it as published work rather than open source
- —No repository, no versioning — the website is offline and the Drive folder is the only copy
- —You need to buy a plasma cutter separately, along with the rails, motors, electronics and all the metalwork; a torch height controller is an optional upgrade.
- —Mach3 motion control is assumed — you will need a Windows PC and a parallel port breakout board
- —The documentation is mechanical assembly drawings and wiring diagrams, not a build log or troubleshooting guide
Parts to buy
10 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
This build involves mains voltage — for adults comfortable with electrical work only.
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
Creator’s build video
The electronics episode of Tosh Davis's build series; earlier episodes cover the mechanical assembly, and the description points to the free plans and CAD files.
More builds like this
All projectsGallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Download all the files from the Google Drive folder before you do anything else(The website is offline and this is the only copy — if the folder goes, the plans go with it)
- 2.Open the STEP file and the PDF drawings to see what the frame looks like and what stock sizes you need(The assembly is complete but there is no step-by-step build guide)
- 3.Watch the earlier parts of the video series to see how the gantry was assembled(Part 4 covers the electronics and Mach3 setup; the mechanical build is in the earlier videos of the playlist)
- 4.Decide on your plasma cutter and torch before you start ordering rails or motors(The torch mount and the floating head are built around a specific torch size)
KNOWN ISSUES
- No licence means you cannot claim this is open source, and you should not assume commercial use is permitted
- The Google Drive folder is the only source — if it disappears, the files are gone, so mirror them locally
- You need a plasma cutter whose trigger you can switch from the controller - this is a table design, not a complete cutting system. A torch height controller is an optional upgrade the creator covers in a separate video.
- Mach3 requires a Windows PC and a parallel port breakout board, and tuning it for plasma takes time
- The frame needs to be heavy and rigid enough that the heat from cutting does not twist the gantry out of square
- There is no written troubleshooting guide - the long part-4 video on wiring and Mach3 is the closest thing, so expect to debug motion and torch triggering yourself
Can I build this without a welder?
No — the frame is welded steel and there is no bolt-together alternative in the plans.
What plasma cutter do I need?
The plans do not name a model. Part 4 of the series shows how he wires the cutter's torch trigger into the control box, so check that your cutter's trigger can be switched the same way and that your torch fits the floating head before you build it.
Is Mach3 the only option?
No, but the wiring diagram is drawn for Mach3 and a parallel port — if you want to use LinuxCNC or a different controller, you will need to adapt it.
How big is the cutting area?
The STEP file and the drawings show the work envelope; measure it there before you buy rails and steel.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
Tosh built three of these tables, and the plans plus a full playlist cover everything from the frame to Mach3 setup. What would you cut first?
Tosh Davis
Tosh Davis built this table as his third CNC plasma cutter and published the plans and CAD files for free in a Google Drive folder. He also offered some of the custom metal parts for sale on his website, which did not respond when we checked.
Keep building — related projects
Same category or platform, picked by how close they are to this build.
FULL CADYou can 3D print a machine that winds carbon fiber tubes
WorkshopFor advanced builders
NO CAD FILESYou can melt soda cans into solid aluminium
WorkshopFor intermediate builders
NO CAD FILESYou can build a machine that turns wine bottles into glasses
WorkshopFor advanced builders
NO CAD FILESYou can turn an old bedsheet into a waterproof tarp
HomeFor beginners
NO CAD FILESA man in his workshop recreated the heat shield material that cracked on NASA's Orion - and reproduced the failure
ScienceFor expert builders
FULL CADYou can build a vibration-proof lab chamber for 400 dollars from a kitchen cabinet and honey
WorkshopFor intermediate builders
DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the files are thorough. The Google Drive folder linked from the video holds DXFs, SolidWorks assembly and part files, a STEP model for Fusion 360, PDF drawings and templates, an updated wiring diagram and a parts spreadsheet, and the video description adds a parts list with links for the rails, NEMA 23 steppers, drivers, power supply, breakout board and rack-and-pinion parts. We found no licence statement anywhere, and Tosh's own website did not respond when we checked, so the Drive folder is the copy to rely on. The video is part 4 of a build series and covers the electronics, torch triggering and Mach3 setup; the mechanical build is in the earlier parts of the playlist. If you want these files, download them before you start planning, because shared folders do not last forever. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.