dyna vs practical

[loopy251]

I am very new to all of this so please bare with me my wife and i watched a dvd on plasma cutting that cought our interest so much that we are going to purchase a small table for hobby working . We are looking to buy a 4x4 table for light steel cutting with router capability for light duty work and have researched a few table builders out there we were leaning towards the Dyna cnc. or the practical table if anyone could help us out who ownes any of these machines could you please let us knowhow your table works and also are these companies still there if you have a problem down the road. I have spoken with Sandy at dyna cnc and Jenny at practical . Both companies seem to have the best table out there .what i am looking for is some real world input to help us make a decision on which table to buy.
Thanks cnc zone great site.
Ken

[Weldtutor]

Hi loopy251

Welcome to CNC Zone

Be patient, I'm sure you will get some opinions on both of the 2 manufacturers you mentioned.

WT

[Scott V]

Originally Posted by loopy251 what i am looking for is some real world input to help us make a decision on which table to buy. Thanks cnc zone great site. Ken

Here is some from a Practical cnc owner. Buy the DynaCnC.

Support will be much better and any problems will get handled.
I also like the fact that Dyna uses Mach3 and SheetCam and
CandCnc on at least some of their tables. That means you
have more support from others out there. It's a no brainer.

Dave at DynaCnC is serious about his tables.
I got more help from Dave on my Practical
table then I got from Practical.
He also owns a highly modified Practical
table.

If you just look at the extra braces on the table and
gusset style, it will be a good clue on who thought out
the light routing.

His tables are shipped all put together, so shipping
could be higher. That is a nice touch.


Scott

[cut more]

Hi Loopy,
I too own a Practical table, I think mine is a little newer than Scott V.'s table. I received mine june 05. Mine has stepper motors,and the v rail to hold the y- axis down.
I would recommend the Dyna table also. The servo drive, and the linear rails would make using the table much better than mine. The extra braces are a must, I can deflect my table .010" if I push on the corner of my table.
As for routing, with my practical set up I can rout plastic and wood no problem, but when it comes to aluminum, I tear what little hair I have left out!
my 2cents

[loopy251]

thanks for your input guys im on my way to michigan next week to have a look at the practical table but from what ive read and the input from this site has me really looking to the dyna machine i was just a little concerned about there location being on the west coast where as michigan is only a 4 hr. drive from my place just in case i needed parts or warantee stuff down the road.
thanks again guy .

[Weldtutor]

Originally Posted by loopy251 .......................... what i am looking for is some real world input to help us make a decision on which table to buy. Ken

There are 2 companies with similar names, that market CNC Plasma cutting tables. This can lead to some confusion!

DynaCnc (Washington) as well as Dynatorch (Kentucky) are often both referred to as "DYNA"

It may be wise to double check which company any comments refer to.

[fastimes]

Originally Posted by loopy251 thanks for your input guys im on my way to michigan next week to have a look at the practical table but from what ive read and the input from this site has me really looking to the dyna machine i was just a little concerned about there location being on the west coast where as michigan is only a 4 hr. drive from my place just in case i needed parts or warantee stuff down the road. thanks again guy .

have you looked at the practical table yet. i am in your boat also. don't know which to buy. let me know what you thought of the practical.

[diarmaid]

Hi Im in similar situation but want the table for home & business, plasma & routering wood. What did u think of the practical?

[Scott V]

Originally Posted by diarmaid Hi Im in similar situation but want the table for home & business, plasma & routering wood. What did u think of the practical?

Don't do the Practical if you are routering. Plasma for that matter.(although mine
works pretty well now. You have been warned and the DynaCNC is the only good option in this class of tables. I am trying to save you a lot of grief that I went
through. I not bad mouthing the Practical table or even how they tried to help
me. I started to get help from the owner of DynaCNC before he built his tables.
That right there says it all. I explored other options and got my Practical table
set up with SheetCam. (first one) Things went from that, to the same software
system that DynaCnc uses. The support from that whole group is top notch.
Practical will never match them because Tom/Les/Art/Jim/Dave are just way
beyond the Practical group. If you buy a Practical table you will be in touch
with the above people before it is all said in done. That is a given.

[Torchhead]

Get more information about the different machines and solutions on the CNCMANUALPLASMACUTTING group on yahoo.

I cannot attest to the mechanical parts of the PCNC machines but I can tell you from having sold a lot of retro fit Torch Height Controllers to PCNC customers that their ATHC for 1300.00 is a waste of money.

There is also a Practical CNC group on yahoo (not sactioned by PCNC) that will provide some interesting reading and maybe a post will get you some direct feedback from some actual PCNC owners.

[Scott V]

Originally Posted by Torchhead their ATHC for 1300.00 is a waste of money.

Dang, and I forgot all about that!!!
It's not only your THC that works correctly
but the software from Art (Mach 3) that
make the table much better to use.
Les's does too of course.

[EPIK Ltd.]

Hi Guys,

I am a distirbutor of DynaCNC products. I will stand neutral on my opinion of competition. However, on a whole I can guarantee great customer service, a great prouduct, and a great feeling from DynaCNC.

As always, your purchase is your choice. You can always call DynaCNC for information, or contact myself. We will always be glad to speak with you. We stand behind our products, our customers, and quite frankly, we stand behind our competition's customers---ready to catch them if they fall.

Many of you are small business owners, and Dave Cress and I are as well. We know the headaches. I am not a salesmen, and noone in my company is. My firm is a group of consultants who want to make people successful. The only time you will speak to someone who is incapable of finding you an answer, is if someone gives you a cold call asking if you would like some FREE info; and even then they will direct you to someone who can answer the questions.

Our actions, and our products speak for themselves.

Tyler Shinaberry
EPIK