Every great shop story starts the same way: a garage, a pile of steel and an idea that won't leave you alone. Garage Fab Builds is our monthly look at what happens next. Each issue features one build, from our own Las Vegas shop or from a creator cutting on a Garage Fab HQ machine, and shows you how it came together. For Issue 01 we're starting where a lot of you will start: the START 4' x 8' Raised Gantry, our bolt-together CNC plasma table.
A full-size plasma table that ships in crates
Big tables have a big problem: shipping. A fully welded and assembled 4' x 8' machine travels like furniture and is priced like it, too. The START CNC plasma table flips that. It's a modular, heavy-duty steel frame that ships in manageable sections, so you pay to move parts, not air, and you get the satisfaction of building the machine you'll cut with.
The 4' x 8' kit is the sweet spot of the START lineup. A full sheet of plate fits on the bed, the raised gantry clears your work, and it all ships in two crates by freight, or you can pick it up free at our Las Vegas, NV shop.
A frame that takes a beating
The heavy-duty steel frame is built to carry the water pan, a full load of material and daily shop use. Integrated supports hold the water pan across the whole cutting area, and curved slats support your material while letting slag and drops fall away. Heavy-duty casters let you roll the table when the shop layout changes, and adjustable leveling pads lock it flat once it's home, even on an uneven floor.
"You pay to move parts, not air. Then you build the machine you'll cut with."
Motion that means business
X and Y run on direct-drive rack and pinion: fast, reliable, long-axis travel that's easy to service. Each axis gets a 5:1 planetary gear reduction for more usable torque and finer motion resolution, which shows up as smoother, more controlled cuts. Z rides on a ball screw for steady vertical torch moves, with 5 inches of clearance below it for material and fixtures.
Travel runs 2 inches past the advertised cutting area in X and Y, giving you room to reach the edges, square up a sheet and set up without fighting the limits. Automatic homing on X, Y and Z finds the same home position every time the machine starts, and programmed travel limits help protect it from overtravel.
Brains on board
The control system is mounted right on the machine, with the cable management fixed in place, so there are no loose wires snaking across the floor. On cut day the electronics do the fussy work for you:
- Automatic torch touch-off finds the material height before each cut for a consistent pierce height.
- Torch Height Control (THC) keeps adjusting while you cut, holding a steady gap even when the plate warps or moves.
- Ohmic sensing handles torch-height referencing when you run the pan dry.
- A wireless gaming-style remote lets you jog and position the gantry while you load and square material.
Software in the box
Every START ships with a USB drive loaded with MyPlasm control software, QCAD and Inkscape for drawing and editing, plus 500+ sample DXF projects, so there's something to cut on day one. Bring your own PC, or choose a pre-programmed laptop or PC kit that's ready to run. See every program we recommend in the Design Lab.
Built by you, backed by us
Each kit comes with a detailed assembly and how-to manual, plus YouTube videos on setup, everyday use and improving your machine over time. Add a plasma cutter from us and it comes with the GFHQ CNC Com Cable, ready to plug in. Bolt-on extras include a laptop or PC stand, a plasma-cutter shelf and an air-filter kit for cleaner, drier air and longer consumable life.
Pick your size
| 3' x 3' | $4,999.99 |
| 4' x 2' | $5,499.99 |
| 4' x 4' | $5,999.99 |
| 5' x 3' | $5,999.99 |
| 5' x 5' | $6,499.99 |
| 4' x 8' (featured) | $7,499.99 |
| 4' x 10' | $7,999.99 |
| 5' x 10' | $8,999.99 |
Prices as of October 2026 with the USB software drive (bring your own PC), no plasma cutter. Freight is priced from your ZIP at checkout, or pick up free in Las Vegas. See Shipping.
Shop notes: five tips for your first day
1. Level first, cut second
Roll the table into place on its casters, then use the adjustable leveling pads to set it flat and stable. A level, solid table keeps the gantry happy and your cuts square.
2. Fill the water pan
Water in the pan helps capture plasma dust and sparks and cuts down on smoke and heat. It also helps keep thinner material from warping. Running dry? Ohmic sensing takes over torch-height referencing.
3. Use the extra travel
The START moves 2 inches past its advertised cutting area in X and Y. Use that room to reach the edge of the plate and square your sheet before the first pierce.
4. Feed it clean, dry air
Moisture and oil in your air line are hard on consumables and cut quality. An air-filter kit is cheap insurance for longer-lasting tips and electrodes.
5. Start with a proven file
Before you draw your own part, cut one of the 500+ sample DXF projects on the USB drive to confirm your setup, speeds and pierce settings.
Your build could be next
Garage Fab Builds is about the people behind the sparks. If you cut, weld, design or build with a GFHQ machine, from signs and brackets to trucks, trailers, boats and race cars, we want to tell your story. Tag @garagefabhq and use #garagefabhq, or apply to the GFHQ creator program. Next month's issue could be yours.
Download the full Issue 01 PDF to print and keep.