The plasma will p**s it. I am assuming you work for a firm that does steel fabrication, in which case you will have better kit that the average DIYer. 5mm plate is nothing to a decent plasma set (40A and above)
If you are any good with the plasma you could do it freehand, or if worried, make a template in MDF (it's only for 2 uses) although you need to work out the size of the plasma tip, then cut parts of the template oversize, and some parts undersize (external is undersize, internal (cutouts etc.) is oversize)
Milling would also work for the holes/cutouts.
My lathe had a bit of play, new leadscrews and nuts in the topslide and cross slide sorted that out
Sean
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