Plasma cutter recommendations

[yomax4]

Most of the Hypertherm machines going forward will come with an encapsulated 1 piece front end consumable. No more stack of parts to keep track of. Interesting idea that includes a chip to track wear and cuts. I've looked at these new parts but have no idea how it impacts the cost to use. Definitely a bold move.

 

[sd455dan]

Most of the Hypertherm machines going forward will come with an encapsulated 1 piece front end consumable. No more stack of parts to keep track of. Interesting idea that includes a chip to track wear and cuts. I've looked at these new parts but have no idea how it impacts the cost to use. Definitely a bold move.

Yeah and I bet that 1 piece will be more than the stack of parts, some of which will likely have been reusable on their older torch.
Maybe.

Makes sense from a convenience standpoint.

 

[Raul-02]

kind of surprised the infamous Mr. Colt did not help.

I'm going to guess that neither Jim the expert nor Samuel Colt the equalizer actually made an appearance.
I think I'd have gone with Sam; so much more intimidating than some technical expert.

 

[yomax4]

I'm going to guess that neither Jim the expert nor Samuel Colt the equalizer actually made an appearance.
I think I'd have gone with Sam; so much more intimidating than some technical expert.

I'd vote for Sam. He blessed me with a couple of his Snake named masterpieces.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

Hypertherm AIR30 here ( the one with the built in compressor).

I like it and guess you’d call me a serious hobbyist.

Just wanted to jump in and let the people reading the thread know that I’ve recently seen advertising that Hypertherm has done some kind of technology upgrades on their latest versions than before.

I know nothing more about the supposed upgrades.

I just bought the same one. I suck at cutting right now, but hopefully I get things figured out a little better.

 

[dragoneggs]

I just bought the same one. I suck at cutting right now, but hopefully I get things figured out a little better.

I'm no pro but I found 1) tilting my head as needed to watch the backside flame and adjust speed... 2) work on hand positioning... and dry run it a couple of times to get the 'muscle memory' if you will... 3) find a scrap or waste area to melt for a few practice inches to warm up before the game.

As I said, I'm no pro... probably a notch above novice, but that's my three cents (adjusted for inflation).

 

[5030]

Unless it's a whack off, I always use a guide (template to make a cut) unless it's the CNC plasma table. Then the program controls the cut.

 

[dragoneggs]

Unless it's a whack off, I always use a guide (template to make a cut) unless it's the CNC plasma table. Then the program controls the cut.

Yes guides and templates are your friend. I CA glued a few stainless magnets to one of my large metal framing squares. It makes a nice guide for straight and right angle cuts. The magnets lift the square off the surface and better supports the shield for drag cuts.

 

[Sodo]

Hypertherm sounds like fun!
I have a specific task coming up and I'm not going to be a pro.
Maybe a pro-slacker.

I've wanted one for ten years.....that was my first mistake, not getting one.
And with all the steel stuff I've made over the years.
Last week was the last straw, was cutting shapes with a jig-saw even..... in y2022.... for shame.

I ordered a Lotos 50A for $399, should arrive Wednesday.

 

[dragoneggs]

Hypertherm sounds like fun!
I have a specific task coming up and I'm not going to be a pro.
Maybe a pro-slacker.

I've wanted one for ten years.....that was my first mistake, not getting one.
And with all the steel stuff I've made over the years.
Last week was the last straw, was cutting shapes with a jig-saw even..... in y2022.... for shame.

I ordered a Lotos 50A for $399, should arrive Wednesday.

Congrats... plasma cutting is so much more enjoyable.

 

[TMGT]

Congrats... plasma cutting is so much more enjoyable.

Yup, the only thing more fun is when you automate them!
I have a 5x10 table at home with a hypertherm PM85 (just went down from a 105 due to no 3phase at the house) and a 6x12 at work with a Hypertherm Maxpro200.

Sent from my SM-G715U1 using TractorByNet mobile app

 

[dragoneggs]

Yup, the only thing more fun is when you automate them!
I have a 5x10 table at home with a hypertherm PM85 (just went down from a 105 due to no 3phase at the house) and a 6x12 at work with a Hypertherm Maxpro200.

Sent from my SM-G715U1 using TractorByNet mobile app

You had to go there... yep, jealous.

 

[BravoXray]

So, did the OP ever decide on what plasma cutter to buy?

 

[sd455dan]

Don't Know... Last seen Nov 19, 2018

 

[gstrom99]

I bought a HyperTherm 30XP. Even my 5 year old grandson can use it (well supervised...).

 

[LittleBill21]

i bought a cheap cut 50 with a pilot arc. works great for me. I don't use it enough for a more expensive machine.

 

[Sodo]

loads of fun!!!

Split a 3x6x.25 rect tube into channels

 

[Big Barn]

View attachment 737948
loads of fun!!!

Split a 3x6x.25 rect tube into channels

What are you making, Sodo?

 

[setxjeff]

I have a 20 plus years old Hypertherm 900 it will pierce 1” and cut up to 1.25”. Needs lots of clean DRY air. Main thing is stay with a major brand for consumables to be available in the long term. I love the drag tip and it also has standard stand off tip. 20 plus years old and parts/consumables still available is a big selling point for me.

 

[Sodo]

What are you making, Sodo?

Those are foundation brackets for a little shed for my lawn tractor that sits out in the weather, the poor deere....
Been intending to build it for 4 years.
All that..... then then it took just one day.

Shed for lawn tractor, nailed to dirt hillside

What do you think of this? I know you value the shelter, as will My Deere…. I pounded rebar spikes into the dirt and welded a steel bracket on. Then bolted a cedar board to the bracket. Its cantilevered. It doesn't snow like the old days. We got 9” of snow last winter. Got just 2 inches this...

www.tractorbynet.com