Plasma Cutting 101: Getting started with CNC and Handheld Plasma Cutting

Eden Attar is an installation artist and the former Artisans Asylum Metal Shop Lead. Her work has been displayed across the country and supported by the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the New England Foundation for the Arts, and Harvard University. Eden sees education as part of her artistic practice and is interested in anti-colonial, de-schooled, and non-hierarchical forms of teaching and learning.

Plasma cutting is a powerful and empowering technique that will allow you to dream up nearly any 2D shape in steel and cut it out in a short amount of time. CNC plasma can be an ideal tool for making repeat or complex cuts out of sheet steel or steel plate. Handheld plasma cutting can be used to make organic, improvised, or precisely traced shapes in a variety of situations, such as cutting decorative air holes in fire barrels, auto repair, or sculpture.

This class is an introduction to using our handheld and CNC plasma cutters. We will cover the basic principles behind plasma cutting and the safe operation of the machines.

Course outline:

Introductions, safety, cutting demo (15 min)

Overview of the anatomy of the machine and how plasma cutting works (30 min)

Consumables exercise: students are guided through assembling torch consumables. (15 min)

Students break into groups. Group 1 makes a cut from a pre-made DXF (digital drawing) and is given time to explore and get used to Torchmate control software while following a checklist with help from the instructor.

Group 2 is given time to explore handheld plasma cutting on a variety of materials and situations.

Groups rotate (1 hr)

The materials fee for this class is $15. This is separate from the ticket price and is to reimburse the instructor for any tools or materials used in this class. This will be paid once, directly to the instructor at the start of the first class meeting. This instructor accepts payments through Venmo.

Students will learn to: safely operate the CNC and handheld plasma cutters.

After this class, students will be able to pass a tool test in order to operate the machines on their own.

Machine consumables, sheet steel for cutting and bending.

Please bring something to take notes with. Plasma cutting involves lots of complex information.
It is suggested that you bring a N95 mask or similar if you own one. The shop has them available for sale (around $10) if not.
If you use glasses for reading or other close-up work, please bring them. We have welding jackets for your upper body, but please cover all the skin on your lower body with clothing made of natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool, denim, etc.) and wear closed-toe shoes.
Please do not wear loose-fitting clothes, please tie back long hair, and expect to remove any rings or dangling jewelry.

Students must be 16 years old or older. All students under 18 must be accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a responsible adult.

Learn more about our class and ticket cancelation policies here.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.

*Sales end 24 hours before the start of the class to allow the instructor and staff time to prep.

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