The "Plasma Plunge" - Miller vs Thermal Dynamics

[Jim in ICT]

Hypertherm's a big outfit. Build nothing but plasma cutters, no welders or other equipment. Heavy into automated plasma power sources. They're located out of Hanover, NH, up your way. Their history parallels TD with common roots. If you look at the Miller plasma torches, you'll notice how closely they resemble the Hypertherm torches.....HMMMMM.
Are you buying over the internet, or through a distributor? Not trying to talk you out of the TD Cutmaster, but since you've got time, find a distributor in your area that offers both and go in and compare. They may have a unit that you might be able to demo.

 

[travis potter]

When I worked for a co. they had all miller welders and started to buy a miller plasma cuter I talked them into renting one and then had the Hypertherm rep bring out one of his cutters. In side by side cuts the Hypertherm was much better. I now have a Hyertherm that I use it works on 110 volts or 220 volts. I use half power on 110 and full on220. It works out real good when you are in the field and don't have 220.

 

[lostcause]

i've been looking into a plasma cutter myself, and i had been considering the miller 625. miller is sold by multiple local shops, so that kind of put it in front. i've now looked at the hypertherm 45, and for the same money, it's looking maybe a little better. though, i saw something on the hypertherm site that i did not see on either miller or thermal dynamics specs:

mechanized pierce thickness. along with a cutter, i'm looking at building a cnc table to use a hand held torch. the units i am looking at are going to be able to cut somewhere between 5/8 to 1 inch material, but until i hit the hypertherm site, i had never thought about a reduced capacity for an internal cut. it seems that if you start at an edge, you can cut quite thick - 1" on the hypertherm 45, but to make a hole or other internal cut, the maximum thickness you can cut is 3/8 inch.

no other site noted this limitation (that i could find). have any of you had experience with this or any other brands? and could you post your thoughts on pierce thickness with any of the brands/models.

thanks.

 

[dcyrilc]

i've been looking into a plasma cutter myself, and i had been considering the miller 625. miller is sold by multiple local shops, so that kind of put it in front. i've now looked at the hypertherm 45, and for the same money, it's looking maybe a little better. though, i saw something on the hypertherm site that i did not see on either miller or thermal dynamics specs:

mechanized pierce thickness. along with a cutter, i'm looking at building a cnc table to use a hand held torch. the units i am looking at are going to be able to cut somewhere between 5/8 to 1 inch material, but until i hit the hypertherm site, i had never thought about a reduced capacity for an internal cut. it seems that if you start at an edge, you can cut quite thick - 1" on the hypertherm 45, but to make a hole or other internal cut, the maximum thickness you can cut is 3/8 inch.

no other site noted this limitation (that i could find). have any of you had experience with this or any other brands? and could you post your thoughts on pierce thickness with any of the brands/models.

thanks.

I don't know the answer to your question, but if you need an edge for the cutting thickness, you could always drill a hole in the material you are going to cut to give you an internal edge to start from.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Lostcause--- Make sure whatever you buy is machine compatible and will be able to receive "start - stop" commands from the computer. Makes it a bunch easier than having to trigger the plasma manually.

 

[lostcause]

I don't know the answer to your question, but if you need an edge for the cutting thickness, you could always drill a hole in the material you are going to cut to give you an internal edge to start from.

though that would work, it defeats a lot of the benefit of a cnc system. generally all of your cuts are going to originate at an interior point on the plate. especially if you were going to cut out 10 or more pieces at once, you would use your software to nest the pieces to make the most use of the plate, so you wouldn't really be able to (or want to) create an entry point ahead of time for each piece to cut.

Lostcause--- Make sure whatever you buy is machine compatible and will be able to receive "start - stop" commands from the computer. Makes it a bunch easier than having to trigger the plasma manually.

it's good that you mentioned this. i have wondered how that works with a portable plasma system. i'm nowhere near making a purchase yet, so it's not something i would have bought without considering, but i never really looked hard yet. any demos/pictures with portable torches never show this. i'm going to hazard a guess that its an optional interface you have to purchase (for the machines that even allow it) thanks for reminding me though. it may make me rule out certain machines immediately.

 

[Redneck in training]

i've been looking into a plasma cutter myself, and i had been considering the miller 625. miller is sold by multiple local shops, so that kind of put it in front. i've now looked at the hypertherm 45, and for the same money, it's looking maybe a little better. though, i saw something on the hypertherm site that i did not see on either miller or thermal dynamics specs:

mechanized pierce thickness. along with a cutter, i'm looking at building a cnc table to use a hand held torch. the units i am looking at are going to be able to cut somewhere between 5/8 to 1 inch material, but until i hit the hypertherm site, i had never thought about a reduced capacity for an internal cut. it seems that if you start at an edge, you can cut quite thick - 1" on the hypertherm 45, but to make a hole or other internal cut, the maximum thickness you can cut is 3/8 inch.

no other site noted this limitation (that i could find). have any of you had experience with this or any other brands? and could you post your thoughts on pierce thickness with any of the brands/models.

thanks.

2x2 CNC plasma cutter, portable CNC cutting system designed to sit on top of the material to be cut for easy cutting in the shop, garage, or in the field

Here is one CNC for reasonable money.

 

[Jim in ICT]

Lostcause--- Make sure that you know which cutting speeds are being discussed. Normally, the IPM are advertised with a hand torch and not machine speeds, which normally are faster. It takes a big power unit to cut thick material with mechanized cutting. Otherwise, cut quality suffers.
Ever notice how while mowing grass, your cut quality sucks when you don't slow down for turns? Same thing with mech. plasma if the cutting speed isn't slowed down for curves and circles. There's a lot to consider.

 

[yomax4]

Normally, Pierce is 1/2 of Actual cut capacity. Buyer Beware of the Hyperthem 45 cutting 1" on a Table. It would be at only a few inches per minute with considerable Curf. If you want to cut 1" buy an 80amp machine. If you want to cut 1/2", Buy a 60 amp. 45 amps on a CNC Table will only be capable of 3/8" at production speeds. I'm unsure where some of these posts get their info and why anyone would consider a 45 amp Plasma for production cutting. Go to a few Distributor Open Houses and cut with all of the Brands. Looking up BS ads on the internet are not advised and you will be sorry if you don't try the best units on the market. Hypertherm, Thermal Dynamics, ESAB and Miller to a certain extent. If you are willing to pay Miller prices, You would be better off with a Hypertherm. After all, The Miller Torch is a 10 yr old Hypertherm torch. All Things Considered, TD all the way.

 

[dcyrilc]

though that would work, it defeats a lot of the benefit of a cnc system. generally all of your cuts are going to originate at an interior point on the plate. especially if you were going to cut out 10 or more pieces at once, you would use your software to nest the pieces to make the most use of the plate, so you wouldn't really be able to (or want to) create an entry point ahead of time for each piece to cut.

I missed that you were looking at CNC.