Help with plasma cutter choice

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I am in the market for a plasma cutter for my home shop. I would like to be able to cut up to 1/2". I want a good name brand that consumables are easy to get. I have both 110v and 220v available. I was looking at the Hypertherm Powermax 30 and thought it was a sweet machine. Is there a better choice? What would you guys go with? Any advise will be appreciated.
Reply:PM30 is a nice machine and all, but cutting 1/2 inch plate really isn't what it is made for.  Recommended for 1/4 inch, max 3/8, and rated for a severance cut on 1/2 inch.The PM45 is the next step up in power and -is- good for 1/2 inch thick stuff IIRC.  Heck, IIRC Jim Colt from Hypertherm even sliced some really thick stuff with a PM45 as a demo.  Thick as in 1+ inch thick.  Not the machine is not the right tool to use to cut through plate that thick on a regular or even fast basis, but it did get through the plate.Hypertherm makes some good stuff IMHO. (not that I've used all or even much of their product line)  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Hypertherm is definately the manufacturer of choice for plasma cutting.  There are several others on the market, but hyperterm has the best support and does the most in depth research of all of them.  The PM 45 is a good choice for what you are looking at as well as the PM 1000 G3.  If you are using it on a CNC table, order it with the machine torch installed and get the hand held seperate later on if you need it.  The hand torch will be cheaper than the machine and save you some money in the long run.  There is a member named Jim Colt who works for Hyperterm and will assist you if you ever run into a problem you need help resolving.  I have  a PM 1000 G3 on a Torchmate 4x4 machine and it is awsome up to about 7/8 of an inch material.  Thinner material allows me to use fine cut consumables at lower amps and they last longer and give way more starts before requiring replacement.  Good luck, hope this helps.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:I would use a ESAB HandyPlasma 380But trying to use a Plasma Torch in place of a real cutting torch - for something 1/2 thick would be like trying to haul 20 tons of coal with a 1/2 ton pick up truck - all in one load.Just as there are 1000 different models of automobiles out there - so too are there welding and cutting machines.  Limiting a machine to 120 volts isn't fair, because you can't get any real work out of it until you start using 240 and up.   The efficiency goes up along with the voltage and it is actually cheaper to use a 240 machine vs a 120 VAC single phase machine.
Reply:Originally Posted by RbeckettHypertherm is definately the manufacturer of choice for plasma cutting.  There are several others on the market, but hyperterm has the best support and does the most in depth research of all of them.  The PM 45 is a good choice for what you are looking at as well as the PM 1000 G3.  If you are using it on a CNC table, order it with the machine torch installed and get the hand held seperate later on if you need it.  The hand torch will be cheaper than the machine and save you some money in the long run.  There is a member named Jim Colt who works for Hyperterm and will assist you if you ever run into a problem you need help resolving.  I have  a PM 1000 G3 on a Torchmate 4x4 machine and it is awsome up to about 7/8 of an inch material.  Thinner material allows me to use fine cut consumables at lower amps and they last longer and give way more starts before requiring replacement.  Good luck, hope this helps.Bob
Reply:I'm completely satisfied with my Miller 375 X-Treme........  Works for me.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:I'm currently re-plating the bottom of my 40' steel houseboat. I cut out 8' of the old keel with my PM30. I can't believe how well that little machine worked! I used it to cut the 1/4" plate for my new keel section, and later for fine trimming and fitting. I also used it to gauge out old welds. It was ideal for me since I cut all the old steel out from the inside to reduce fire risk. It weighs nothing, and has 15' torch lead. I've been running it on 220V with a gas powered compressor. Much easier than a bulky torch and tanks of gas. It's the best machine or tool I've bought in a while.Last edited by tpierce; 08-02-2010 at 02:18 PM.Reason: punctuation
Reply:What do you guys think of thermal dynamics units?
Reply:Originally Posted by Booger WelderThe efficiency goes up along with the voltage and it is actually cheaper to use a 240 machine vs a 120 VAC single phase machine.
Reply:"What do you guys think of the Thermal Dynamics units?"It truly seems to me that in 2.5 years, some members would have learned to use the "search" function, rather than asking a question that's been answered a hundred times.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by pyroracing85It isn't cheaper to use a 240 machine vs 120. You are still using the same amount of wattage as 120 just your amps are lower.power (watts)= volts*amps
Reply:Also to add to what Con_Fuse already mentioned, it's important to remember that a plasma used on a table vs hand held are two different things.A plasma used on a table is rated for it's pierce capability whereas a handheld torch is generally started on an edge or angled to begin the cut.  A machine torch doesn't have this option.In other words, it takes more power to "straight pierce" than it does to cut.  That's why, plus the higher cut speed, higher output units are generally used on plasma tables.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.