Not really. Today's CNC plasma tables have very user friendly proprietary software that eliminates the tedious inputting of G codes to control a table. Pretty much plug and play today. All the 'grunt work' is handled by the software and your laptop computer which directly interfaces with the table via a serial cable. The old buzzword was 'Conversational Programming' and that has been taken to a new level by the software. The issue is, you have to buy a table with the most user friendly software package and for me, that is a Langmuir Systems table. I also have conversational programming on my Bridgeport Versa-Trak vertical mill but it's a bit more complex than a modern plasma table as in not real user friendly and being an old fart I'm not overly versed in programming anyway.
I looked hard at every plasma table before I settled on Langmuir. They have the best software package of anyone and the most 'user friendly' plus they host an online forum for owners where you can ask any questions you might have and get answers quick.
I bought a table simply to cut parts (in steel and aluminum) that I was sub contracting out and having to wait for them, sometimes a long wait depending on how busy the sub contractor was and then paying for that. Easier for me to bring that in house and not have to wait plus it's a for profit thing now instead of a revenue drainer. If I need say 'X' part, it's already saved as a file on the laptop so all I have to do is put the appropriate gage of material on the table, attach the air line to the plasma cutter, grab the laptop from the house (the one I'm posting this on btw), plug it into the table, download the file and cut the parts and I don't even need to be watching, the machine knows what to do.
Lots of people buy tables to make what I refer to as 'artsy-fartsy' stuff like custom signage and custom furniture stuff which I'm not interested in at all and most software comes with many designs you can custom modify to make (cut) whatever you want to and it can be a very profitable venture I've been told. Again, I got it to cut parts I was subbing out and nothing else.
Couple things that ally to ALL plasma cutters no matter what make they are is:
They have to be supplied with clean (particle free compressed air) and it has to be moisture free as well. I suggest you buy a point of use Motorgard cannister air filter (5 micron pass) filter and attach it to the air inlet port on the plasma cutter, The Motorgard filter has a replaceable element inside that will remove 100% of any moisture and any particles that may be present in your compressed air supply and are very easily replaceable. In fact most all Motorgard filters will come with additional elements and they are very easy to change. They are in Amazon or you can buy them direct from the Motorgard website. I use the 5 micron filter attached directly to the back of the plasma cutters, I actually have 3 units and all of them have Motorgard cannister filter on them.
Dirty air is death on any plasma cutter. One, it will foul the air solenoid inside the cutter and secondly, it will destroy the consumables in the torch head quickly. No plasma cutter likes dirty air, especially dirty air with moisture in it. and the Motorgard filters aren't that expensive either. Think I paid around 70 bucks for mine when I bought them and I bought all 3 from the Amazon website.
Second thing you need is a compressor that will supply compressed air in the quantity and pressure your plasma cutter requires. Most of them will require clean compressed air around 4-6 CFM and sufficient pressure as well. Depending on the unit that can be from 90 psi to 120 psi. Compressed air is the medium that projects the plasma arc and allows it to cut metal. The specifications on the unit you purchase will determine both the supplied CFM as well as the required pressure, they are all different but if the pressure drops below the minimum required pressure the unit won't cut and if there is moisture in the air supply, it will destroy the consumables in the torch head quickly. Tips, electrodes and swirl rings won't last long at all.
Third, always wear a welding hood when cutting. The arc produced by any cutter is the same as a welding arc so always wear a hood and set it to at least shade 10 or better ff you have an auto dark hood. If you don't, a standard shade 12 works well as well. Wear suitable welding attire as well. The plasma arc produces ultraviolet rays the can cause severe sunburn on expose skin and I'd suggest a face respirator as well. I use a 3M one with replaceable cartridges, they are cheap and work well. Plasma cutting metal will give off noxious fumes, just like welding does.
I use an auto dark hood with 'grind mode' myself. I like the grind mode because I can leave the hood down and actually see what I'm grinding because the lens in the hood is clear.
Finally, all plasma cutters will produce 'dross' and particles of the cut material will drop to the floor or collect on your welding bench and need to be cleaned up. They are gritty and you don't want to be tracking that stuff into your house on the bottoms of your shoes-boots.
Hope that helps but don't depend on the tiny separator that is suppled with most plasma cutters today to 'clean the air and remove any entrained moisture' because they won't. You need a point of use filter of sufficient capacity to remove the contaminants.
Myself, I have a refrigerated dryer on my main air line from the compressor but moisture will still collect in the flexible line between the air supply QD fittings and the plasma cutter point of entry, why I use point of entry Motorgard filters.
