I need a little advice. I am currently using a thermal dynamics pak 10xr. 220v 3ph made for 1"cuts. It originally came with a PCH or PCM 52 torch. The pch/m was a two hose torch with different shielding and cutting gasses and pressures. Somebody, before I owned it replaced it with a pch 102 hand torch. I found a good deal on a pcm 102 machine torch so I bought it. The machine originally came off of a plasma table and that's what I'm using it on. My thinking was that I wanted the same consumables for both torches so I didn't have to have so much laying around. The problem is that my consumable life is terrible. I get maybe 10 feet of life out of a cut. It's also on a brand new dessicant dryer and has a motorguard filter after the dryer plus the small filters on the machine so I believe clean dry air is not my problem. Was wondering if there's a setup or a recommendation of a torch or a machine to replace one or the other. I have found very few pcm 52 torches and they're in the $1000 to $1500 which is a big gamble for a old torch with almost obsolete consumables. I'm not opposed to getting a different machine and have been looking at a pak 75 that uses the same consumables and could possibly hook a machine torch to? I don't cut a lot of stuff but 10 feet of consumable life is unacceptable. Thank you for any insight's or ideas you may have.
Reply:The Pak10xr was designed and built in the 80's, it originally was a 100 amp transformer based, high frequency start air plasma system. State of the art in about 1988! Most air plasma systems back then would be expected to get about 100 to 120 starts on a nozzle (tip) and electrode. Awesome consumable life in the 1980's, terrible by todays standards. Today...the major brand 65 or 85 amp plasmas that can run on single phase power will cut circles around the old 10xr, and you can expect anywhere between 500 and 1500 starts on a single nozzle and electrode. Unfortunately....to get the consumable life we experience with the newest technology systems...more is involved than just getting the right consumables or torch. Consumable life is controlled by the combined designs of the torch, the consumables, the power supply (current ramping, air flow timing, end of cut coordinated air / current downramps). The technology has changed considerably since the time that the 10xr was in its glory!I would suggest talking with Brand X who often posts on this site....he seems to have pretty good experience with the older Thermal Dynamics plasma system and may be able to help you optimize use with the best combination of consumables and torch...Jim Colt Hypertherm
Reply:I kind of figured as much. The machine only cost me about $500 total so I figured I would use it for a while and see how it goes. I still have the hand torch for it and its pretty useful in the right application. I will probably buy a hypertherm sometime as I see some of them are already set up for a torch height controller input output. I haven't used any of the newer hypertherm machines, only the powermax 1000 and a 600 I think, didn't really pay attention to the numbers. Can you get them new with a machine torch or a hand torch or do you purchase the torch separately? If so what would be a good machine torch for 3/4 mild steel?
Reply:Hypertherm Powermax 45 XP, 65, 85, 105 and 125 models are all available with hand and machine torches....or you can buy them with both. Check them out at www.hypertherm.com . If you have questions...feel free to ask at any time. If you need to be able to pierce 3/4"....you would need at least the Powermax85, for edge starting on 3/4" you can do well with the 45 XP. Jim Colt Hypertherm Originally Posted by ferrret3238I kind of figured as much. The machine only cost me about $500 total so I figured I would use it for a while and see how it goes. I still have the hand torch for it and its pretty useful in the right application. I will probably buy a hypertherm sometime as I see some of them are already set up for a torch height controller input output. I haven't used any of the newer hypertherm machines, only the powermax 1000 and a 600 I think, didn't really pay attention to the numbers. Can you get them new with a machine torch or a hand torch or do you purchase the torch separately? If so what would be a good machine torch for 3/4 mild steel?
Reply:I seen the cheap Panasonic P80 torches on Ebay recently and decided to give that a try. It was only $20 so I ordered one and hooked it up to the pak 10xr to see how it worked. There was a bit of cobbling fittings together and has no parts in place switch either but I can make sure the parts are there. I was kind of amazed that the life I will get out of one tip set is good. The cut quality is no where near that of a hypertherm but it will get me by till I make some money on it and get a good cutter in the future. It would be great if they had a manual for the P80 torch as to what pressures to run and speeds to go though.
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