Questions for TBN members who own plasma cutters

[grsthegreat]

my unit starts the cut above the plate using an automatic arc height sensor. paint or powder coat would affect that. i suppose i could simply sand off the starting area and after it started the arc would clear the area ahead of it, but ive never actually tried to do that. i just recently had to modify a powder coated door, but i removed the powder coat finish with a spray on epoxy stripper. didnt take too long to do and i wanted to re-powder coat it after i was done anyways.

 

[grsthegreat]

thats weird. my cheap chinese built dryer works great. i have a manual drain hose on it that i clean out when i remember. there is an additional paper moisture trap further down the line and the same filter is in there from 5 years ago. when i checked it a few months back, it still looks brand new. there is no moisture getting out of the dryer.

 

[Shield Arc]

The IR cooler has an automatic drain also. I use a Motor guard filter system also.

 

[flingwing1969]

Hypertherm is the brand you want. It meets your criteria and is the 妬ndustry standard in a lot of ways. They also have figured a way to bump voltage a bit from most others so it will cut more for a given amp draw- you will have to dig deep in the specs, watch some YouTube videos or call them to fully understand how it痴 done.

Dead on right. Great machine. You want clean dry air but other than that, not fussy. They will cut it, rusty, dusty, dirty, cast, or rolled. I recently tore apart an old damaged square grand piano and liked the intricate cast design in it. I cut all the unwanted cast iron away with my PC and had not problems doing it - even though the thickness was above the posted maximum for my machine.

 

[Rustyiron]

Another Hypertherm owner here. I bought it new over 15 years ago. The technology has changed and they get more life out of the consumables and cut thicker metal with the same power. Last year I bought the upgraded new torch (with the above improvements) available for my 15+ year old machine! Now just the torch (and cable) iirc was $450, but I'm money ahead being able to buy these parts on a machine that is still in working order after 15 years.
I'm not 100% on this, but I thought that they don't like heavily rusted metal, it's hard on the consumables.

 

[FTG-05]

Tagged for info.

 

[RNeumann]

Hypertherm Comparison - Powermax30 XP vs Powermax30 AIR - YouTube

Powermax30 AIR from Hypertherm - In Depth Testing & Overview! - YouTube
I don’t know that I would get one with an internal compressor but you get the idea.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have the Hypertherm 45XP. I am an occasional user and this is definitely overkill for my needs but the quality is outstanding. I debated for a long time between the 30XP and the 45 and by time I decided, the 45XP came out and I decided this would be the first and last PC I would likely ever buy so go a little bigger and buy USA made and quality machine.

I met Jim Colt (of Hypertherm) at the Fab Tech show and tried out the 45XP and decided to splurge. I don't use it enough to feel the consumbles pain but I do plan to create dryer air now that I also have a HF sand blast cabinet.

 

[lennyzx11]

I've almost talked myself into the hyperthermia 45.

Anyone know the best place to buy from?

 

[tomplum]

I have a PM 45 as well. I made it easy and just bought their dryer that sits on the back of the unit. Welders Supply is where I got it. Not to be confused w/ welding supply....