Plasma Cutter Advice

rodnocker

rodnocker

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Location
Clayton NC
First, I will say that I know nothing about them, and I have never used one.

With that said, I've been researching a bit and have come up with the following choices...

Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 42 - $960.00
40amp (40% duty cycle)
Cuts 3/8"
Sever 5/8"

Everlast SuperCut 50p - $650.00
50amp (60% duty cycle)
Cuts 5/8"
Sever 3/4"

I've heard good stuff about Thermal Dynamics from a few friends and all the reviews I've seen online about the Everlast seem to be good. Just thought I'd throw this out and see if "those in the know" have more advice.

My budget is right around $1000.00, but if I can get something decent for less than that, that's just more money to get other toys.

Uses will be cutting steel plate up to 1/4" (1/2" on rare occasions, but rare enough that I can just clean up the cut with a grinder if needed)
 
Do you have enough air compressor to run one? That's a kicker -

I have a 20-gal unit from tsc taht runs 5.5 SCFM @ 90 PSI, and I can only run my borrowed hypertherm for about 15-30sec before the compressor kicks on (regulated to ~75psi)
 
the biggest thing you will notice on an offbrand is the duty cycle of the unit. Also, they typically dont have as much power as they are rated.

If I had $1000 to spend on one, I would keep my eye out in the classifieds/ebay and buy a used hypertherm.
 
Normally, I'm all about finding a deal on Craigslist. On something like this though, I was thinking a warranty might be a good thing to have. Since I don't know a lot about plasma cutters, I really wouldn't know what to look for when buying one used. Also, most of the plasma cutters I have seen on Craigslist the past couple of months, don't seem to be that great a deal.
 
I would suggest looking at consumables. How easy is it to get tips/Shields/parts for the different machines?

Also do they have support in the us? A warranty does no good if you have to call India to get it.
 
I've got a Miller. Very happy with it and parts are right down the street.
 
I had an everlast. Consumables had to be ordered from china, were cheap, but had to be replaced often. I now have a hypertherm, consumables are more but they last much longer, cut quality is MUCH better and I can cut ALOT faster. My advice, buy a used Hypertherm and never look back. A hypertherm 45 would cut better than the everlast 60 I had, the hypertherm 65 I bought is in a completely different ballpark than the everlast 60.
 
Paid $400 for a real deal 50a Snap-on ya2230 from a backwoods farmer who had 90% of his fixes in the field and never hardly used it. Then after 2 years I had to turn around and pay $400 more to get the transformer and misc. diodes replaced. I think I'd been better off buying a new $800 unit.
That said, I have the parts in a bag and know what to do if it goes again. Labor cost more than parts to fix one. And not too many people work on them. All my tech did was call century and go step by step with their tech. I could have done that myself and would have been ahead at this point...
Regardless, I use mine all the time. It'll pay for itself in no time if you know all about cutting pieces out with a grinder.:rolleyes:
 
6BangBronk said:
Paid $400 for a real deal 50a Snap-on ya2230 from a backwoods farmer who had 90% of his fixes in the field and never hardly used it. Then after 2 years I had to turn around and pay $400 more to get the transformer and misc. diodes replaced. I think I'd been better off buying a new $800 unit.
That said, I have the parts in a bag and know what to do if it goes again. Labor cost more than parts to fix one. And not too many people work on them. All my tech did was call century and go step by step with their tech. I could have done that myself and would have been ahead at this point...
Regardless, I use mine all the time. It'll pay for itself in no time if you know all about cutting pieces out with a grinder.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Check to be sure you have good voltage on both the legs of your power. Low voltage will eat diodes. Also too small wire will do the same
 
snappy said:
Check to be sure you have good voltage on both the legs of your power. Low voltage will eat diodes. Also too small wire will do the same
Click to expand...

Now for the rest of the story... I have 6ga wire ran for 24 feet to my outlet. All good there. Then... I rigged up a 20 foot extension cord with 6ga. to use the PC in the parking lot and think that had something to do with it, exactly as you just suggested. Tech dude told me exact same. The transformer goes bad with low voltage as well. But the diode evidently goes first causing the chain reaction.

Question though, why is it the PC still works without the ground attached? I forgot to put it on once and noticed it still worked. :eek: But after last expense, I always make sure it is grounded. And not using it from the extension cord any more either.:shaking: Just limits me to within about 12 feet of the plug (machine cord length + leads).
 
I've got a Miller 375 Xtreme, bought it used a month or two ago, and have been using the heck out of it in the past couple weeks. I was cutting 3/8" plate last night, 4" length of cut, about 20-30 seconds per piece. Cuts it super clean, no post prep required for welding if you can hold it straight enough. I've cut 1/2" with it just fine also, but its a little slower. Goes through 1/4" and smaller as fast as you can smoothly follow a line. Its the first one I've ever owned, but for my needs it is perfect, and it sounds like you would have similar requirements. Its a little taller and not as long as a loaf of bread, but a lot more useful for cutting metal.
 
X3 hypertherm and never look back. I've used thermal dynamics, miller, century and Lincoln. I still own a 50 amp century and before I bought my hypertherm powermax 65 I liked the century the best. On sale you can find a powermax 45 for around 1500 but rarely. I also love my old school century. You can find those in 40 and 50 amp versions used for around 600 plus they use max42/43 consumables that most welding supply houses stock.
 
Here's a sample of some cuts on 3/8" plate from my Miller 375 Xtreme. They are freehand with no rollers or guides, just dragging the torch along a piece of stock. I've read the Millers are made by Hypertherm, but I have no idea. I know Hypertherm makes a similar unit thats supposed to be a hair better, but I'm pretty happy with my $400 purchase :D.
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