ShopSabre SideKick 10

The ShopSabre SideKick 10 is the 5x10 size of the SideKick plasma series, with a cut area of 65 x 122 in (1,651 x 3,099 mm). Steel service centres stock a lot of plate in 5x10, so this is the SideKick for shops that order plate by the sheet instead of by the drop.

There is working room around the sheet. Sixty-five inches of width is more than a 5x10 plate needs, which leaves space to square the sheet against alignment brackets, and the extra length means the torch can lead in from off the edge at both ends. Small things, but they decide whether the last row of parts in a nest can actually be cut.

Weight is the other change at this size. A 5x10 plate at the thicknesses a plasma table sees is a serious load, and the SideKick carries it on a six-leg welded tube frame with a steel bed and reinforced slat brackets. ShopSabre gives no load rating for the table, which is worth asking about if thick plate is routine.

The motion system is common to the series: closed-loop motors, planetary gear drive on rack-and-pinion X and Y, a ball screw Z with 9 in (229 mm) of travel, a 1,500 ipm (38.1 m/min) rapid traverse and +/- 0.002 in (0.051 mm) repeatability. Listed cutting capacity is up to 2 in (51 mm), with oxy-fuel recommended over 1 in (25 mm). The table needs 93 x 145 x 67 in (2,362 x 3,683 x 1,702 mm), and down-draft tables, single or zoned, are offered in place of water.