The simple answer is… you shouldn’t.
The other guys… Bend-Tech, EMI, and Lincoln all have exceptional machines and if they are in your budget, I highly recommend you favor purchasing one of these machines over the PRI Pipe processor. I will let you do your own homework as to which one will work best for you as they all have their pluses and minuses. However, suffice it to say if you can afford one of these machines, they are a better option.
Why I developed the PRI Pipe Processor. The PRI Pipe Processor was not developed for the shop with deep pockets. Rather, it was developed for regular guys who are grinding (no pun intended) every day trying to make a living doing what they love. You see, although I have worked for large fabricators for the last 30 years, my early career was spent working for little guys. The guys just like you who are pouring their heart and soul into their business day in and day out. I have always felt a loyalty towards those shops, and every time I would see a big dollar machine roll in the door of one of these large shops, I saw opportunity stolen from the little guy. After all, how can a guy with a grinder and a set of torches compete with a processing machine that can bang out parts all day and all night without getting tired and without making mistakes?
Why the automation you are looking for may not be out of reach. Well, technology has progressed to the point where affordable options are now available to the little guy. Take burn tables, for example. It wasn’t that long ago that a burn table was out of reach for the small fabricator, and for the most part, large high-end high-capacity machines still are. However, with the introduction of the PlasmaCAM burn table and now Arclight Dynamics, Langmuir Systems, STV CNC, Eastwood, and Premier Plasma, it is almost to the point where the fabrication market has become saturated with light industrial burn tables. Therefore, owning one is no longer considered a leg up; rather, it is a necessity for a small shop.
Level Up. If you are reading this article, then you are the little guy who is looking for the next leg up… and you have come to the right place! Automating the processing of linear material, especially pipe, will bring the next level of opportunity to your business. If you do a quick YouTube search, you might start believing that manually coping pipe is easy. …it’s not! It takes ridiculous amounts of time, and mistakes are easily made. Whether you are laying the copes out by hand and cutting them with a grinder, using some type of jig and hole saw, or milling the cope with the end of a glorified sanding belt, trust me, there is a better way.
The PRI Pipe Processor provides what you need most.
Simple Programming - With the PRI Pipe Processor, programming is simple. You just enter in the type of cut, the angles, and the length; then the machine does the rest. Video Tutorial
Unlimited cut length - You can cut both ends of any pipe that is shorter than 8’ in a single operation. Pipes longer than 8’ can be cut in a two-step process (Click for a YouTube Video). If you want to process longer pipe in a single operation, the 8’ processor can easily be extended to any length you want! Just reach out to us and we will give you all the details on how to lengthen the bed to process a full length of pipe.
Fantastic Accuracy - The PRI Pipe Processor offers accuracy that is more than sufficient for most fabrication projects. The Kerf Calibration video on the Programming and Calibration page will give you an idea of just how accurate this machine is. (Click for a YouTube Video)
Marking - With the right plasma torch, such as the Hypertherm 45xp, it can also pierce mark each pipe or burn indicator marks for bending and fit-up. …it can even mark weld symbols right on the part! You can see more about this on our YouTube channel.
Replacement Parts - All replacement parts are open source! You can either buy replacement parts from us or you can buy them directly from online vendors. We will happily share with you the source of the parts so you NEVER have to worry about fixing your machine.
Contact us for more information! So if you are a small fabricator with a tight budget looking for something that will give you a leg up on your competition, click Contact in the quick links below and send us a message. There is so much more we can tell you about our machine.