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Need advice Plasma Cutter
- Thread starter Johnny A
- Start date
Firebrick43
Well-known member
You realize you will be limited to 1/8" thickness right?
REDONE
Active member
I've had a thermal dynamics drag-gun in 110 (20amps) and was really happy with it. At the same time I had an ESAB 480 machine I understand the limitations of the smaller unit. The drag-gun would slice up to 18ga clean, 1/8" would have some slag but a quick swipe with a grinder takes it off, and it would sever 3/8" dirty, but get it done for demo type work.
lazer50
Well-known member
There is a whole forum on this topic at welding web.com. i googled plasma cutters for 500 dollars.i already knew what the general opinions were.you either need to re think your budget,realize for that money you'll get a china job and depending on how long it lasts will be very limited to what you can cut.it will go thru consumables fast then where do you get those.how the company will stand behind it etc.i understand not everyone can afford a hyper t h e r m but who can afford the time and money on something not dependable. So read up or check your budget.you could also buy an excellent set of harris torches and rent tanks.
Plasma?
Hypertherm. Nuf said.
They do make a 120V input plasma with built-in compressor. Well actually it is a dual-input voltage 120V-240V 30 amp plasma cutter, the PowerMax30-AIR. Rated to a recommended workpiece thickness of 5/16" at 20 ipm cut speed, or 3/8" workpiece at 10 ipm cut speed. And a sever rated capability of 5/8" thick at 5 ipm cut speed.
https://www.hypertherm.com/en-US/hypertherm/powermax/powermax30-air/
But your $500 budget is waaaay low for anything new (other than some low-end Chinese no-name unit with no tech support and 'iffy' quality). The PM30-AIR has a listed list price of about $2k.
IMNSHO.
Hypertherm. Nuf said.
They do make a 120V input plasma with built-in compressor. Well actually it is a dual-input voltage 120V-240V 30 amp plasma cutter, the PowerMax30-AIR. Rated to a recommended workpiece thickness of 5/16" at 20 ipm cut speed, or 3/8" workpiece at 10 ipm cut speed. And a sever rated capability of 5/8" thick at 5 ipm cut speed.
https://www.hypertherm.com/en-US/hypertherm/powermax/powermax30-air/
But your $500 budget is waaaay low for anything new (other than some low-end Chinese no-name unit with no tech support and 'iffy' quality). The PM30-AIR has a listed list price of about $2k.
IMNSHO.
FULLSCALE302
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2014
- Messages
- 130
Too bad you weren't closer. I've got a Hobart 110 w/ built in compressor I've been thinking of selling!
Whiskeymike
Well-known member
Hypertherm Powermax 30xp. Find one used, or get one on student discount. You'll have to double your budget, this is a tool imo that you get the right quality, or you should just stick with grinding wheels. Especially if you are using it a dozen times a month.
HMCFab9
Well-known member
I like mine from Thermal Dynamics.
Cave Creek Ray
Well-known member
That was my budget too...
I bought a Hypertherm 30XP a couple months back. Amazing unit. $1075.
I looked at several used units, one a Thermal Dynamics unit that was pretty used and they guy wanted $800 for. Lots of Chinese units for cheaper but the consumables will eat you alive and in a year or two, you will have spent as much as for a Hypertherm.
The 30xp has 50% more power than the older model or the one with the compressor inside. I love it because I can plug it into 110v or 220v, whatever is handiest. I needed to cut a hole in the back of my metal shop cabinets for power. On 110v it cut really nice and clean. Super well made and very portable. Comes in a nice storage box. What a handy and fun tool.
Ray
I bought a Hypertherm 30XP a couple months back. Amazing unit. $1075.
I looked at several used units, one a Thermal Dynamics unit that was pretty used and they guy wanted $800 for. Lots of Chinese units for cheaper but the consumables will eat you alive and in a year or two, you will have spent as much as for a Hypertherm.
The 30xp has 50% more power than the older model or the one with the compressor inside. I love it because I can plug it into 110v or 220v, whatever is handiest. I needed to cut a hole in the back of my metal shop cabinets for power. On 110v it cut really nice and clean. Super well made and very portable. Comes in a nice storage box. What a handy and fun tool.
Ray
maxpower_hd
Well-known member
I went through the same thing and ended up with the Hypertherm too. It is a very nice unit. I have used one of the Hobart ones with the built in air and it worked well although it was a 220V machine. From the research I did I decided I wanted to stay away from the built in air and just use a separate compressor. Less to worry about if it brakes. I can get air to it from everywhere I am using it so I don't need it to be built in anyway.
The way I figured it, at $500 it is only relatively cheap. It isn't cheap enough for me to wish I had bought something else. I ended up around $1100 from Airgas on sale.
The way I figured it, at $500 it is only relatively cheap. It isn't cheap enough for me to wish I had bought something else. I ended up around $1100 from Airgas on sale.