help for a plasma cutter

[pekan]

Hi every one need some advice to buy a plasma cutter for my hobby shop that cut 1/2 inch or so thank for your advice .

 

[Bday]

Hypertherm powermax 45. Weldersupply.com American made (assembled) employee ran and owned.

 

[yomax4]

Lots of good units out there in that amp range. PM 45 included. Unfortunately it's not "made' in America. I own one and under the cover shows 6 countries of origin including China, Taiwan, Italy, and Mexico. Employee owned yes, Made in USA, Not quite.

 

[Bday]

Lots of good units out there in that amp range. PM 45 included. Unfortunately it's not "made' in America. I own one and under the cover shows 6 countries of origin including China, Taiwan, Italy, and Mexico. Employee owned yes, Made in USA, Not quite.

Wow! That's the first time I have heard of that! I have been looking at buying hypertherm. Everything I've read is said to be American made?

 

[Bday]

So assembled in US with sourced parts?

 

[yomax4]

So assembled in US with sourced parts?

Sadly there are no true made in USA Welders or Plasma cutters anymore. Miller even shows assembled in USA on their boxes. Even the engine drives., It's too bad. Smith and Victor still make torches here but not much else in the welding and cutting world is actually manufactured here. It's a shame.

 

[Bday]

Over at weldersupply it shows pic on box label country of origin as USA. So at least I can support assembled in US! With that said a year of research shows hypertherm as tops in industry.
So let me rephrase my post assembled in USA. Better?

 

[yomax4]

As far as Plasma Cutters go, Hypertherm and Thermal Dynamics are the only ones who make their own torch. Everyone else including Miller sources them from somewhere else. That gives Hyp and TD the edge.

 

[JCByrd24]

Another vote for Hypertherm. I have a PM 45. I'm not aware of all the details on the Made in the USA discussion but I think they're as close as you can get. I've driven by their large building in New Hampshire and last I was aware they have a lot of their parts made by local CNC shops in New England. Additionally my understanding is they are basically leading the way in all development in plasma technology and they have the best consumables life.

 

[jimcolt]

Hypertherm does all of its design, engineering, and manufacturing of its plasma cutters in its plants in Hanover and Lebanon NH, USA. Always has. Hypertherm has been in business since 1968 and has always globally sourced the best components in the world. It does not matter to us (never has) where the components come from as long as the component supplier uses the latest quality control techniques and follows fair labor practices. We have never claimed anything different. Many of the parts used in a modern inverter based plasma cutter are not produced in the USA. Integrated circuits and surface mount PC Board components come from a variety of regions, IGBT switching devices come from Japan (the highest quality ones.....there are others!). Yomax.....you missed a few countries...there are many more than you mention!

Hypertherm has never laid a single employee off under any circumstances, and certainly has never laid of employees and farmed the work out to other countries as many in the industry have. We have a large number of automatic machines, lathes, milling, robotics, assembly cells.....that are state of the art in this type of manufacturing. Our latest plant (71 Heater Road, Lebanon, NH) is a state of the art LEED Gold certified energy efficient plant...this is where all of the Powermax air plasma's, their torches and all of their consumables are manufactured. Needless to say we are very proud of our operation worldwide, since all of us own the company and make decisions on our products and our direction. The President of Hypertherm has an office cubicle just like the rest of us.....no private jets.

If you are interested in a tour of our world class manufacturing operations in NH (yes, USA) feel free to contact me and I'll provide a personal tour.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

Lots of good units out there in that amp range. PM 45 included. Unfortunately it's not "made' in America. I own one and under the cover shows 6 countries of origin including China, Taiwan, Italy, and Mexico. Employee owned yes, Made in USA, Not quite.

 

[jimcolt]

Thermal (owned by the investment Group Colfax....who also owns Esab) moved their torch production from West Lebanon NH, USA to Mexico a number of years ago. Miller purchases its torches from a company that manufactures in the Czech Republic, Lincolns torches (and plasma cutters) come from Italy...last I knew.

Hypertherm designs, engineers and manufactures all of its torches in Lebanon and Hanover NH, USA.

Jim

As far as Plasma Cutters go, Hypertherm and Thermal Dynamics are the only ones who make their own torch. Everyone else including Miller sources them from somewhere else. That gives Hyp and TD the edge.

 

[jimcolt]

Hypertherm has the widest line of Plasma cutters with 7 air plasma models ranging from 30 amps to 125 amps, and 6 100% duty cycle industrial plasma systems ranging from 130 amps to 800 amps. Hypertherm also produces industrial Water Jet systems, Fiber Laser systems, Industrial CNC controls, Height control systems for plasma, CAM cutting software, Offline Robotic 3D software, as well as a wide variety of Plasma, Laser and Waterjet cutting consumables. For those that are not aware of what Hypertherm does! Jim Colt

 

[woodlandfarms]

If budget is a concern, look into the Everlast brand. Chinese made, but they are really well made. A number of us on the forum have their machines and really love them. Customer support is great, and Mark who pays for the advertising on the site gives a discount to TBN members.

Apparently there is a new model that just came out that is pretty killer. If budget is not an issue, and you are using it in an industrial setting, I would go to the big boys.

 

[IslandTractor]

If budget is a concern, look into the Everlast brand. Chinese made, but they are really well made. A number of us on the forum have their machines and really love them. Customer support is great, and Mark who pays for the advertising on the site gives a discount to TBN members.

Apparently there is a new model that just came out that is pretty killer. If budget is not an issue, and you are using it in an industrial setting, I would go to the big boys.

Or, check out the Hypertherm 30xp. Nice little machine if you are not cutting more than 1/2". Dual voltage too.

 

[Bday]

Hypertherm does all of its design, engineering, and manufacturing of its plasma cutters in its plants in Hanover and Lebanon NH, USA. Always has. Hypertherm has been in business since 1968 and has always globally sourced the best components in the world. It does not matter to us (never has) where the components come from as long as the component supplier uses the latest quality control techniques and follows fair labor practices. We have never claimed anything different. Many of the parts used in a modern inverter based plasma cutter are not produced in the USA. Integrated circuits and surface mount PC Board components come from a variety of regions, IGBT switching devices come from Japan (the highest quality ones.....there are others!). Yomax.....you missed a few countries...there are many more than you mention!

Hypertherm has never laid a single employee off under any circumstances, and certainly has never laid of employees and farmed the work out to other countries as many in the industry have. We have a large number of automatic machines, lathes, milling, robotics, assembly cells.....that are state of the art in this type of manufacturing. Our latest plant (71 Heater Road, Lebanon, NH) is a state of the art LEED Gold certified energy efficient plant...this is where all of the Powermax air plasma's, their torches and all of their consumables are manufactured. Needless to say we are very proud of our operation worldwide, since all of us own the company and make decisions on our products and our direction. The President of Hypertherm has an office cubicle just like the rest of us.....no private jets.

If you are interested in a tour of our world class manufacturing operations in NH (yes, USA) feel free to contact me and I'll provide a personal tour.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

My point exactly!!!! Thanks Jim

 

[yomax4]

Ok Jim But your lengthy post doesn't explain why you continue to say that Hypertherm in made in USA. Or the Miller torches you mention used to be sold to Miller as a way old Hypertherm torch ie: Ice 80T or what ever. They were good enough for Miller right? Guess not. I agree that the Hypertherm is a good product no deny that. My post that you chose to use a Hypertherm sales ad was simply that the original USA companies had a leg up on Torch design over imports and that was it. Also, if Hypertherm was such an innovator, Why did they change torch designs every 2 years for ever trying to find something that works. Look at the torch on the 600.800.900. It was crap. The plastic around the nozzle totally burnerd up under very little use. The biggest complaint with distribution is that Hypertherm changes their torches and consumables every time the wind blows and it's not because of innovation. Also, Most importantly like I said in my post, I am a Hypertherm owner. After listening to your Blather ******** it wont be for long. What a Fricken Blow Hard !

 

[CCWKen]

Yeah, I was getting excited about the 100% duty cycle on the big commercial machines but that fizzled when I looked at the Hypertherm specs on the 45. Pretty mellow 50% for such a high dollar machine. Bummer. Might as well get a Harbor Freight unit at half the price.

 

[bcp]

Don't forget to figure in the cost of a hair dryer.

From:
Everlast PowerPlasma 50 Plasma Cutter-PowerPlasma 50 - The Home Depot

"To get started, we suggest a minimum air compressor size of 5 CFM at 90 psi and a tank size of 25-gal. Or greater and an inexpensive hair dryer mounted inline."



Bruce

 

[Shield Arc]

You can always build an intercooler, and after cooler. I built one, after years of use it developed a leak. So I bought a refrigerator cooler. Believe it or not the garbage can of water cooled the air more than the refrigerator.

 

[jimcolt]

The Duty cycle on Hypertherm units is rated at the full amperage output, cutting the production thickness rating (thicker material creates a higher arc voltage) on a 104 degrees F day. With the 45 this means that the amperage x load voltage is 45 (amps) x 132 (volts needed to cut 1/2") which equals 5,940 watts of cutting power. So when cutting 1/2" steel on a 104 degrees F day you will not exceed the duty cycle if you cut with 50% on vs off time. If you cut thinner (even at 45 amps) the duty cycle increases, reaching 100% on about 5/16" thickness. If it is less than 104 degrees, the duty cycle increases as well.

Why don't manufacturers make all machines 100%? In the Hypertherm systems all of them from 125 amps and above are 100%, because they are expected to be used in industrial applications 3 shifts a day under tough conditions. On the smaller units, below 125 amps......duty cycles are lower. The power supply (specified for lower duty cycle) can be smaller, lighter and lower in price.....which is what the majority of the smaller plasma cutting market asks for.

The duty cycle ratings on all Hypertherm systems are done this way for consistency in comparing our own products with each other. Other manufacturers conveniently leave out the critical factors that determine duty cycle....which are output wattage and ambient temperature. You won't find those specs on most other machines....and often if you do they calculate their duty cycle on thinner material....which uses a shorter arc, lower arc voltage. One major brand 40 amp unit that I tested had an advertised thickness of 1/2", and advertised duty cycle of 60%, and under lab testing the duty cycle proved to be closer to 15%!

Hypertherms are all rated at their advertised production thickness. It is virtually impossible to exceed the 50% duty cycle rating on a Powermax45....ask around and you will see! It is easy to exceed the duty cycle on many plasma cutters random dusty cycle ratings. If you don't see the thickness, the wattage and the ambient temp listed on a duty cycle rating...it is just a number.

Jim Colt

Yeah, I was getting excited about the 100% duty cycle on the big commercial machines but that fizzled when I looked at the Hypertherm specs on the 45. Pretty mellow 50% for such a high dollar machine. Bummer. Might as well get a Harbor Freight unit at half the price.