Buyer guides
Cutting & Welding Machine Guides
Straight answers to the questions buyers ask before choosing a CNC cutting or welding machine, written by the team that builds them in India.
RA Machine is the CNC machine division of R.A. Auto Engineering Works, an engineering company in Kolkata, India, founded in 1989 and building machines since 2008. We make CNC laser and plasma cutting machines, MIG, TIG, MMA and submerged arc welding machines, and cobot and robotic welding systems, and supply them across India and abroad. We are GST registered, hold an Import Export Code for export, and have supplied Indian Railways since 2022 as a preferred vendor for certain safety-critical items. More about RA Machine
Guides
All guides
CNC Laser · CNC Plasma
Laser vs Plasma Cutting: Which CNC Cutting Machine Do You Need?
Choose a CNC fiber laser if your parts need fine detail, small holes, square edges or a clean finish on sheet and medium plate. Choose CNC plasma if you mostly cut mild steel plate for structural or heavy fabrication, where low purchase and running cost matter more than edge finish. Many workshops start with plasma and add a laser as precision work grows.
Read the guideCNC Laser
How to Choose Fiber Laser Power (1.5 kW to 30 kW)
Size fiber laser power to the thickest material you cut regularly and the output you need each shift, not to the rare heavy job. More power cuts thicker plate and cuts sheet faster, but it raises the cost of the source, chiller, electrical supply and gas. Most sheet-metal shops sit towards the lower end; plate processors and high-volume producers justify more.
Read the guideCNC Plasma
Choosing a CNC Plasma Cutting Machine: 100 A vs 200 A
Choose a source towards 100 A if most of your work is thin and medium mild steel, where a finer arc gives cleaner small features and lower running cost. Choose a source towards 200 A if you cut heavier plate every day or need more speed on mid-range thicknesses. Then specify torch height control, a clean air supply and fume handling to match.
Read the guideMIG / TIG / MMA · Cobot / Robot · SAW
MIG vs TIG vs MMA (Stick) Welding: Which Process Should You Use?
Use MIG for fast, productive workshop fabrication on steel, stainless steel and aluminium. Use TIG when weld quality and appearance matter most, especially on thin stainless steel and aluminium. Use MMA (stick) for site, structural, repair and outdoor work, where simple equipment and tolerance of wind and dirty steel count for more than speed. Many shops end up using two of the three.
Read the guideSAW · MIG / TIG / MMA
What Is Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) and When Should You Use It?
Submerged arc welding is a mechanised process in which a continuously fed wire welds beneath a layer of granular flux, so the arc is hidden and the weld is protected. Use it for long straight or circumferential seams on thick steel in the flat position, where it deposits metal far faster than manual welding with deep penetration and consistent quality.
Read the guideCobot / Robot · MIG / TIG / MMA · CNC Laser
Cobot vs Industrial Robot Welding: Which Is Right for Your Shop?
Choose a cobot if you weld small to medium batches, change parts often, have limited floor space or are automating for the first time, because it is quick to teach and can work near people. Choose an industrial robot in a guarded cell when you run high volumes of repeat parts and need maximum speed, reach and continuous output.
Read the guideMIG / TIG / MMA · SAW
220 V vs 440 V Welding Machines: Which Supply Do You Need?
Choose a 220 V single-phase welding machine for small workshops, maintenance teams, light fabrication and work where the machine moves between sites. Choose a 440 V three-phase machine for continuous production welding, heavier sections and processes such as submerged arc welding. The supply at your site and how long the machine welds without a break usually settle the decision.
Read the guideCNC Laser · CNC Plasma · MIG / TIG / MMA
CNC Machine Buying Checklist: 12 Questions to Ask Before You Order
Before ordering a CNC cutting or welding machine, get written answers on twelve points: the materials and thicknesses it must handle, the power or current needed, working size, your power supply, gases and consumables, software, what the price includes, lead time, payment terms, installation and training, warranty, and service response. A supplier who answers all twelve in writing is easier to hold to account.
Read the guideCNC Laser · CNC Plasma · MIG / TIG / MMA
How to Prepare Your Factory for a CNC Cutting or Welding Machine
Prepare the site while the machine is being built: a correctly rated three-phase supply with proper earthing and stable voltage, clean dry compressed air, safe storage for assist or shielding gases, a level floor that can carry the machine, room for the chiller and fume extraction, and clear crane or forklift access. The supplier's site-preparation note for your machine should give the exact figures.
Read the guideCNC Laser · CNC Plasma · SAW
Importing a CNC Machine from India: Shipping, Documents and Installation
Importing a CNC machine from India comes down to five things: agree the Incoterm (usually FOB an Indian port or CIF your nearest port), pay against clear milestones, check the machine on a pre-shipment video, receive a complete document set for your customs broker, and plan installation before the crate lands. Confirm your voltage and conformity marking requirements at quotation, not at the port.
Read the guideHave a question we haven't answered
Tell us what you cut or weld, how thick it is and how much you produce, and our engineers will recommend the right machine.