Good luck with the class. Plasma cutters are expensive there around $1200 but there good if you`d cut alot but a cutting tourch will do the same thing and is much cheaper wont be as perfect a cut but they work just fine for the weekend worrior. Only tip I know is always were sleeves and gloves weld spatter hurts! But heres a couple links that have some useful info
http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl...icles/list.asp
http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/
Good luck,sean