Who want to chat about plasma cutters?

[5030]

Thanks, I couldn't remember the name of my downstream filter. Mine stays clean as well but I use a roll of toilet paper (Charmin) in mine. Heard good and bad about the HF dryers so I went with an IR which was appreciably more expensive, probably has the same guts...lol

I'm 100% a Hypertherm person with fine cut consumables. Great machine and easy to interface to my table or use as a stand alone. besides replacement consumables are easy to purchase. My local Air Products outlet carries them.

 

[grsthegreat]

I used to install very expensive units in cabinet shops…. They were all chinese made guts. So i figured, why bother.

there just refrigeration units that take moisture out of the air. Pretty basic guts.

 

[5030]

I used to install very expensive units in cabinet shops…. They were all chinese made guts. So i figured, why bother.

there just refrigeration units that take moisture out of the air. Pretty basic guts.

It all hinges on CFM flow through the unit and if the unit can extract (condense) the entrained moisture 100% at maximum required CFM and I bet the guts are the same on all of them.

 

[DaveMueller]

I picked up a YES brand CUT-65DS on super discount. Only cut a few things, but works great, lots of good reviews. Supposed to cut up to 1" mild steel. I cut a piece of 1/2" 4140 plate, it did a nice job. The manual is lacking, there's no chart for thickness vs CFM and/or current.

Once the industry switched to switching supplies instead of heavy transformers, it's all about QC on the circuit boards. Every cell tower in the world runs on switching supplies now and run 24/7/365, so the technology is sound.

 

[fasttruck860]

My vote would be for a hypertherm, they make the best plasma cutters. I have a 45xp and it's been a great machine. Very frugal with consumables and runs on my compressor which is only 20gallon. I did add about 40 feet of copper pipe to cool the air and collect moisture. I've easily cut 3/8 steel and 1/2 going slow.

 

[woodchuckct]

Who's got one or uses one?

I'm thinking of getting this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052OX87...&colid=TJYU61LC7LU&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I've been reading comparisons and watching some youtube reviews, that one seems to be a hit.

I used mine for metal craft that we sold at craft shows. I got a dual power, 110 and 220, because don't always have 220 available. At 110 it will cut 3/16 smoth. Most of the time I am cutting old saw blades, so it works great. I paid more but American. Hyper-Therm 30xp. Very easy on the expendable. We'll worth the extra cost. It's quality.

 

[Randy52]

I have a Miller Spectrum 375 it will cut close to half inch. Very dependable machine.

 

[Will S]

I bought a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 40, about 10 years ago, and have a large dryer attached to my 20gal tank air compressor. It works really well, and consumables really last long.

 

[5030]

Nice thing about the micro processor controlled Hypertherm's is they decide the cut amperage by sensing the thickness of the metal, you can maually adjust but I never do. I let my machine decide.

 

[charliecrew]

Who's got one or uses one?

I'm thinking of getting this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052OX87...&colid=TJYU61LC7LU&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I've been reading comparisons and watching some youtube reviews, that one seems to be a hit.

I have a miller spectrum 625. What you want to do is determine how thick you want to cut, then look at consumable cost, price, availability of consumables. Then look at reliability, warranty, and do you need a compressor. Do not accept that one brand is better than all others.

 

[twowoode]

I have an older hypertherm 350 that works real well. It was rated for 3/8 I think but cuts 1/2 .

 

[kpsp50]

Check out primeweld they are from New Jersey, I have one of there welders great machine well built and very reasonable on price and their when you call. I have two plasma cutter one on my cnc and the other on a cart haven't used my A/O tanks except for the rosebud for heating if I get another plasma cutter it will be a prime weld enjoy

 

[workinonit]

I hava a TD, don't recall the model, rated for 3/4" but runs through 5/8" like butter. I bought it refurbished from a friend's welding business for a grand like new. I love that thing. I have the drag tip setup that is worth it's weight.

 

[HayFarmer]

I have had the Lotos since 2017. Does everything I need for farm stuff. I'm not a fabricator. Got the 40 piece nozzle and cap kit for it, haven't used them all yet.

 

[joea99]

I could never bring myself to spring big bucks for one, so I got a "Colossal Tech Cut 50-D" on EBay some years back for under $200. Seems to work OK and consumables are readily available.

Most of the cuts I make are 1/4 or thinner and need a lot of cleanup, even with a template/guide. But I think it is mostly an operator problem as some cuts are very clean.

Seems to help to use metal free of rust and oil. Suspect I'd do better if I cleaned the mill scale off as well before cutting.

 

[GeneV]

Yeh, I'm hearing real good things about the Lotus! I need to keep this budget minded, I won't be using it enough to justify a high expense. The Lotus LTP5000D is pretty much at the top end of my budget (<$400). Also I watched a review by Mike Festiva for the Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter-BTC500DP, seems pretty nice for the price. It's got the pilot arc like the Lotus.

Guys, what features are a must, you think?

 

[sd455dan]

Yeh, I'm hearing real good things about the Lotus! I need to keep this budget minded, I won't be using it enough to justify a high expense. The Lotus LTP5000D is pretty much at the top end of my budget (<$400). Also I watched a review by Mike Festiva for the Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter-BTC500DP, seems pretty nice for the price. It's got the pilot arc like the Lotus.

Guys, what features are a must, you think?

Hero cut 35 is likely in your budget BrandX over on welding web tests out a lot of the less expensive plasma's.

Check out some posts on this thread, post#77 shows a cut made with a little 35 amp unit. (Irontron)
The hero cut is an arcsonic unit which is who builds the LTPDC2000d
looks like amazon has it for $155,
997 ratings with a 4.5 average review, not bad.

Irontron is even less money. But can't find it listed for sale anymore

How cheap can you go?? - Page 4

I am about to find out. Not ebay China cheap, but from a real store, but still China made.. :laugh: I have this thing about getting a new sub-$100 stick welder that works. Last one was $129.99, and a real 3 year warranty..Worked very well too..Sold it to my friend, so moving the bar down even...

weldingweb.com

 

[HayFarmer]

Yeh, I'm hearing real good things about the Lotus! I need to keep this budget minded, I won't be using it enough to justify a high expense. The Lotus LTP5000D is pretty much at the top end of my budget (<$400). Also I watched a review by Mike Festiva for the Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter-BTC500DP, seems pretty nice for the price. It's got the pilot arc like the Lotus.

Guys, what features are a must, you think?

Although mine is red, it is the same model. I wouldn't get one that didn't have pilot arc. I'm not that good! www.uwelding.com is their website. Supposed to do up to 5/8", I know it will do up 1/2" from using mine. Never had to do heavier.

 

[TMGT]

Nice thing about the micro processor controlled Hypertherm's is they decide the cut amperage by sensing the thickness of the metal, you can maually adjust but I never do. I let my machine decide.

What model HT are you using that can sense material thickness?

Sent from my SM-G715U1 using TractorByNet mobile app

 

[GeneV]

Although mine is red, it is the same model. I wouldn't get one that didn't have pilot arc. I'm not that good! www.uwelding.com is their website. Supposed to do up to 5/8", I know it will do up 1/2" from using mine. Never had to do heavier.

Ok, that's good to know about the pilot arc, thanks! I'm leaning toward the Lotus, definitely.