Portable Plasma Cutters, Miller ? Thermal Dynamics?

[A**holes Garage]

I'm in the market for a light duty plasma cutter. I do light fabrication, up to 1/4" at most, and not often.

I have the oxy torch, Mig welders, angle heads with cut offs, etc. Just need to have a plasma for those tight spots and for precision cuts that I need sometimes.

Of course, I would like to buy the biggest and the best but I really can't justify the expense and the hassle of 220, long power cables, etc.

I've been considering the portable plasma cutters as I do a lot of fab work outside the garage. These portable units have the on board compressors. I'm looking at the Miller Spectrum 125 or the Thermal Dynamics Aircut 15c.

Does anybody have these two machines that can share some pro's and con's?

Any other advice?

 

[MFGENG]

Look at hypertherm too, they make the best ones out there. I plan on picking up a hypertherm 30 soon.

 

[A**holes Garage]

Look at hypertherm too, they make the best ones out there. I plan on picking up a hypertherm 30 soon.

I checked the Hypertherm 30 but it doesn't have an on board compressor does it?

 

[Tarheelgarage]

I checked the Hypertherm 30 but it doesn't have an on board compressor does it?

You don't want any plasma arc cutter that has on board compressor; none of the professional models have them. If you are away from a compressor, just take along a bottle of nitrogen.

I own and use the hypertherm powermax 30. Great dual voltage unit; well made by employee owned company in NH.

 

[A**holes Garage]

You don't want any plasma arc cutter that has on board compressor; none of the professional models have them. If you are away from a compressor, just take along a bottle of nitrogen.

I own and use the hypertherm powermax 30. Great dual voltage unit; well made by employee owned company in NH.

I'll look at that one closer. I do have compressed air and since it is a dual voltage, that is favorable spec.

 

[mjb]

You don't want any plasma arc cutter that has on board compressor; none of the professional models have them. If you are away from a compressor, just take along a bottle of nitrogen.

This.

I have a Miller Spectrum 375 Extreme and it does almost everything I need on 120v. Because it comes with the MVP, I can switch to 240 for the rare occasion that I have to cut .25.

 

[A**holes Garage]

This.

I have a Miller Spectrum 375 Extreme and it does almost everything I need on 120v. Because it comes with the MVP, I can switch to 240 for the rare occasion that I have to cut .25.

The MVP is a cool feature.

 

[Spareparts]

2nd the Hypertherm 30, changing the voltage is as simple as switching the plug, a lightweight, very portable, cut's 10 ga like butter, very pleased with it.

 

[BD1]

Here's a couple welding forums that have what you are looking for.

http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/forumdisplay.php?3-Welding-Discussions

http://weldingweb.com/index.php They have a dedicated site for Hypertherm . A member is employed by them and has contributed great info.

This is my local supplier that has had some good deals if you are interested.

http://www.weldersupply.com/products.asp?id=6&cat=Plasma+Cutting+Machines

Check out the Hypertherm Powermax 45 Plasma . Buy it once and your done.
Good luck !

 

[purplezr2]

Love my Hypertherm Powermax 65.

 

[A**holes Garage]

I'm leaning towards the Hypertherm Powermax 30 now. Nice machine, sounds like they have great service and made in the USA.

Thanks for the input and links.

 

[Camper]

If you go to the forum o Hobart Welder site look for JimColt.
He works for Hypertherm and can tell you more than you want to know about them.
I have the powermax 30 and use the **** out of it.....

 

[A**holes Garage]

If you go to the forum o Hobart Welder site look for JimColt.
He works for Hypertherm and can tell you more than you want to know about them.
I have the powermax 30 and use the **** out of it.....

I've read some of his posts. Good to know there are reps on the site if you have questions or problems.

 

[BD1]

If you go to the forum o Hobart Welder site look for JimColt.
He works for Hypertherm and can tell you more than you want to know about them.
I have the powermax 30 and use the **** out of it.....

yes, he's the one I was talking about on the Welding web site.

http://weldingweb.com/index.php

 

[cafyrman]

Just picked up a Hypertherm 30 off of Craigslist today. Wasn't a fantastic deal, but enough of one to get my wife to let me buy it. $750, but no accessories or anything. And the cord had been cut and had a 110 plug put on it. I have no idea why. Cut 3/16" pretty easily on 25 amps.

 

[A**holes Garage]

Just picked up a Hypertherm 30 off of Craigslist today. Wasn't a fantastic deal, but enough of one to get my wife to let me buy it. $750, but no accessories or anything. And the cord had been cut and had a 110 plug put on it. I have no idea why. Cut 3/16" pretty easily on 25 amps.

sounds like a "hot one"

 

[IndyGarage]

I've got a powermax 30 - really like it. I've sold a couple of them by showing folks how well it works.

 

[Agent1320]

I've got a Hypertherm 30 as well. Great little machine.

 

[Larwyn]

I have the Miller Spectrum 375 Extreme and no complaints. Miller was an easy choice for me because the only Welding equipment shop in town is a a Miller dealer. Local availability of consumables is an important consideration to me.

 

[KPSquared]

Look into Longevity. do some research before you write off the "chinese junk" they have preformed well. A local fab shop runs two of them and they have preformed awesome.

 

[MoonRise]

Pretty much what most folks already mentioned: Hypertherm.

Good products, good company, good consumable life.

If you 'need' to be able to operate on 120V power, then that pretty much dials the choice into the Hypertherm PowerMax30. Runs on 120V or 240V power.

A 'sister' machine (almost the same same machine, slight differences, rebadged-type of machine) is the Miller Spectrum 375.

The plasma cutters that run off 120V power with the built-in air compressors were made pretty much for the HVAC (sheetmetal) trade guys. Think about it, there is only so much raw power you can get out of a 120V outlet and you are using some of it to run a (admittedly smaller) air compressor as well as powering the plasma cutter. Within their limits, those machines are fine. But those limits are pretty much just cutting sheetmetal.

Cutting up to 1/4 inch thick steel? That is right within the 'specs' of the PM30. It is 'rated' for cutting 1/4 inch steel, can go 3/8 inch OK, and 'maxes' out (slow and a bit rough on the cut) on 1/2 inch steel.

If you have a 'need' to cut thicker on a regular basis, then you should probably move up to a machine with a little more power. Like the PM45 (slices through 1/2 inch steel 'like butta', max-rated cut is 3/4 inch steel, and can do a "severance cut" on 1 inch thick. 240V power only though.

Need to cut thicker? They have machines that can do that.

Thermodynamics also makes some nice machines, but generally from what I have heard the Hypertherm machines 'own' the performance and consumable-life factor. YMMV.

 

[Racer_X]

Another vote for the Hypertherm. No need to reiterate what's already been said here. They make great products.

 

[A**holes Garage]

Ordering the Hypertherm 30 in the morning. Thanks All!

 

[Tarheelgarage]

Ordering the Hypertherm 30 in the morning. Thanks All!

You'll wonder how you lived so long with out it...

Don't cheap out on filtering of the air. That's the key to long consumable life.

I use a small, separte air hose from the tank to a wall mounted Motorguard M30 canister type filter. From there, I run a small air hose which threads into a disposable dissicant filter that is mounted to the rear inlet of the PM30.

 

[A**holes Garage]

You'll wonder how you lived so long with out it...

Don't cheap out on filtering of the air. That's the key to long consumable life.

I use a small, separte air hose from the tank to a wall mounted Motorguard M30 canister type filter. From there, I run a small air hose which threads into a disposable dissicant filter that is mounted to the rear inlet of the PM30.

I'm ordering the Motor Guard 30 and going to fabricate something to make it portable with the cutter. Probably a base plate that attaches to the bottom of the cutter and a bracket going up the back to support the filter. I'll need to move the unit outside for cutting. I did notice it's 1/4" in out though correct? Need to get adapters to 3/8"?

Don't think I'll need a desiccant filter since I live in AZ. I've had a compressors for over 20 years or so and never had water or moisture in the tank or lines. Little dry around here.

 

[platypus20]

I think you will be happy with the Hypertherm plasma cutter. I have a PM 30, a PM 45 and a PM 1250 and love my Hypertherms.



jack

 

[zmotorsports]

As much as it pains me to say this because I bleed blue, stay away from the Miller plasma cutters. We have a Spectrum 2050 at work and when it is working properly is cuts ok, not steller. The consumables, ie drag shield, tip and electrode are spendy and fail at an alarming rate.

I have a friend who has the Thermal Dynamics and it works good but I don't have enough time on it to comment about the consumables. One of the guys I work with has a Hypertherm and he loves it.

I have an ESAB PCM-875 at my home shop and it is hands down the best plasma I have ever used. It is the older version as I have had it about 10 years now. The newer ones are supposedly the same machine just in a different, more rounded enclosure, mine is the old square box looking model. It works consistantly every time I fire it up and the consumables last a long time and don't seem to break the bank. I would highly recommend the ESAB.

Mike.

 

[bad_idea]

I was looking into getting a plasma cutter for the house and decided against it at this point in time due to cost. That being said, my research concluded it best to use a cylinder of nitrogen rather than going to the expense to dry your compressor's air enough to get quality cuts and long consumable life.

 

[kwhopper]

i own a thermal dynamics 82, never have any problems with this machine, keep the air clean and dry, you shouldnt have an issue with any of the newer machines

 

[kkroger]

https://www.hypertherm.com/en-us/Products/Handheld_cutting/Systems/powermax30AIR.jsp
Hypertherm offers the PM30AIR now which does have on board air...
and is dual voltage...

I love my little PM30 it has been a work horse! it is my travel machine...
Also my plasma table backup...

 

[frankush]

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