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Hey I was wondering if you guys could help me. I am looking for a plasma cutter that is usa made. . It should cut 1/2 to 3/4 and it would be better if it had a built in aircompresssor but it wouldnt have to new from a company or used if you selling one. probly 800 or 900 dollars i could go higher but just any ideas ? no chinese crap Quality is our policy.
Reply:Something to cut that thickness is not going to have a built in compressor in it. The to top runners are Thermal Dynamics (my pick) or Hypertherm. With the capacity you are looking for, you are looking to spend at least $1800 or higher. I know that the Thermal Dynamics units are assembled here in the U.S., I am not sure of the Hypertherm, you can't go wrong with either of these units. Just my $.02
Reply:well i aprreciate it thank youQuality is our policy.
Reply:You'll be looking for something in the 40-50 amp range. The less expensive units are 20-30 amps and good to about 3/8. They run between $800-1500 and only a few have built in compressors. A US 40-50 amp machine will be $1500-2500
Reply:I found one at Airgas for $1675. Miller Spectrum® 625 X-TREME™ with XT40AEAD 200LE, Lincoln precision tig 185, Millermatic 251, Spectrum 625 extreme, Victor torch , Smithy 1220LTD. and Do all C-4 band saw , Always adding.
Reply:Originally Posted by houseoffireI found one at Airgas for $1675. Miller Spectrum® 625 X-TREME with XT40
Reply:Hypertherm powermax 45. Don't cheap out on a plasma cutterYa gotta spend money to make money!
Reply:Those are both very good solid machines. The miller is more portable and the Hypertherm has a huge following, especially among DIY CNC crowds.
Reply:You will not find a plasma cutter that will cut over 1/2" that has a built in compressor. The combo units use too much power to run the compressor which takes away from the cut power of the machine.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:man i dont even think of the words 'plasma cutter' anymore , i only hear ' HyperTherm' thermal arc 252i - millermatic 350P - miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs - Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:Hey eagleman,As the others have indicated, no heavy p/cutters rated for those thicknesses that have a built-in compressor. My selection was the Thermal-Dynamics Cutmaster 52, 60A, cuts 1/2 with ease, 3/4" slower, 1" severance, & the best value at $1400 incl s/h......Made in USA. Everyone has their preferences.....do your homework. Pic #3 is 1/2".Denny Attached ImagesComplete Welding/Machine/Fab. ShopMobile UnitFinally retired*Moderator*"A man's word is his honor...without honor there is nothing.""Words are like bullets.... Once they leave your muzzle, you cannot get them back."
Reply:awesome thanks yorkster that was the bestQuality is our policy.
Reply:100% of Hypertherm units are designed, engineered, tested and assembled in the US by employee owners of Hypertherm. Hypertherm is the largest producer of plasma cutting equipment in the world, never laid an employee off during the economic downturn...and in the last year or so hav hired over 200 new hires.The T-D units used to be manufactured in the USA.....today, a few of the air plasma units are manufactured in China, some in Mexico....and some are still assembled in the USA. Unfortunately.....there were layoffs at T-D during the downturn....and much of the work was then offshored.In regards to specifying a plasma system based on thickness.....there are two types of spec to look at...piercing capacity and edge starting capacity. Edge starting and cutting with decent quality on 3/4" material can be done with many 45 to 50 amp plasma systems.....these units (most brands) can pierce generally in the 3/8" to 1/2" range.If you have the need to pierce 3/4"...with decent consumable parts life...then you will need an 85 to 100 amp system (most major brands). Attempting to pierce 3/4" with an underpowered plasma will damage the nozzle (tip) and will cause poor cut quality, short consumable life....and high cutting costs.The Hypertherm Powermax45 will edge start and cut 1" materials with ease, will pierce 3/8" without a height control, and will pierce 1/2" with a height control system. The Hypertherm Powermax85 with edge start and cut 1-1/4" with ease..and will pierce 5/8" without a height control and 3/4" with height control.Pic of a 3/4" steel part ...as cut with Powermax85. pic of a 3/8" steel part as well as 1/2" steel parts cut witha 45. Hypertherm is slightly more costly as compared to T-D to purchase, less expensive to use (longer consumable life) and your money stays in the U.S., and not into the hands of investors...rather it stays in the employee owners hands.Jim Colt Originally Posted by tmb821Something to cut that thickness is not going to have a built in compressor in it. The to top runners are Thermal Dynamics (my pick) or Hypertherm. With the capacity you are looking for, you are looking to spend at least $1800 or higher. I know that the Thermal Dynamics units are assembled here in the U.S., I am not sure of the Hypertherm, you can't go wrong with either of these units. Just my $.02
Reply:thanx you provided alot of helpful infoQuality is our policy.
Reply:my little p/cutter uses an external air compressor and barely cuts 1/4" (picture) but works great for all the sheet metal i need to zip through . Since lurking here i wanted the spectrum xtreme the TD then the HT . I will eventually snag up a little powermax and it will be like xmas. Attached Images thermal arc 252i - millermatic 350P - miller XMT, cp300ts, 30a 22a feeders, buttload of other millers, handfull of lincolns, couple of esabs - Hypertherm 1250 G3
Reply:You guys that know what you're doing get some really nice cuts, especially Jim's with the holes that look like they're drilled.. If you don't want to deal with the blowback of piercing, would drilling a pilot hole first keep the molten metal from trying to get down your shirt? I'm a little scared of that, but I guess I'm gonna have to get over it.LibertarianLincoln AC/DC 225Everlast PowerPlasma 70 Hobart IronmanEverlast PowerTig 200DX
Reply:Yes pilot holes work well, I have done that a few times. you can also start cutting at an angle to the plate and rotate to perpendicular cut your hole. I do like my ESAB 875. 60amp unit. One advantage to the ESAB is there are a lot of them out there and show up for sale used on CL and the like quite regularly. I would probably buy a HyperTherm if I was getting new... Also you will find that the Chicom units need about twice the amperage to cut the same thickness as a quality brand name unit...Tiger Sales: AHP Distributor www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P, Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma. For Sale: Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun. Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:One of the major advantages of plasma cutting (assuming you use an adequately sized plasma!) is its speed and productivity. Drilling holes adds an operation and effectively slows down the process.To answer the question...yes, drilling a hole and starting on the edge of the hole is the same (to the plasma cutter) as starting on the edge of the plate.A better solution: Use a plasma that is specified for the thicknesss you plan to cut...in terms of piercing. It takes about 1/2 second to pierce through 3/8" steel with a Hypertherm Powermax45....the blowback in minimal, steerable (in most cases) and generally is not an issue. If you tried to pierce that same 3/8" steel with a lesser plasma...it will take longer and blow back more material....as well as produce nozzle (tip) damage. Consequently...if you try to pierce 3/4" with a Powermax 45 (rated to pierce 3/8" and 1/2"), then expect a long pierce time, a lot of blowback, and damage to the nozzle.Using a plasma correctly generally produces less molten metal splatter than most welding processes.Jim Colt
Reply:"Also you will find that the Chicom units need about twice the amperage to cut the same thickness as a quality brand name unit..."A lot of people shop for plasma systems (welders as well) based on Amperage......making the rough assumption that if the amperage output is the same...then the cut thickness and speed will be the same.Amperage is part of the equation.....but the real rating of power for welding and cutting is watts, or killowatts. To build an extremely low cost power supply you design it with smaller transformers (yes, inverters have transformers) smaller switching devices (IGBT's or FET's), smaller cooling system design (fan, ducting, etc.) and use cheap labor.It simply costs more to build a power supply with a higher sustainable voltage output.....and the formula for determining killowatt output for a plasma power supply is maximum rated amperage x maximum rated voltage. This is of course tied to duty cycle as well.....as you could design a power supply with a high output killowatt rating that would only run at that setting for 30 seconds or so.Speaking for Hypertherm systems....when you read the fine print on the brochure and in the operators manual specifications....you will almost always see that these systems have a much higher output killowatt rating....as compared to other major brands....and dramatically higher as compared to low cost imports.Most import manufacturers eautehr talk in terms of amps only.....or if they list the killowatt rating they do not detail anything about how long the system can operate at the rated output. for some hobbyist or very low use applications...these systems work just fine.Many users that have low cost imports are perfectly happy with them. Almost all that have the opportunity to cut with a newer technology Hypertherm system rated at the same amperage as the import....will find themselves pleasantly surprised with the difference in power, ease of use and consumable life. You get what you pay for!Jim
Reply:Have thicker stuff to cut??Well.........................................1 1/2" camshaft: 10sec preheat, about 3 to 4sec to cut. #2 Harris tip, 5psi Acetylene, 35psi O2.Oh those feeelthy smelly smoky O/A torches Maybe the EPA, DOT, Dept of Justice, or the AMA will get around to banning these horrible things Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Farmersamm,I almost always agree that an O/A torch set should almost always be owned before a plasma is considered as a shop tool. That being said....I would have flipped the switch on on my Powermax85 plasma and cut that shaft in about 1 second with no preheat, no oxygen, no acetylene.My O/A setup is used for heating and bending....I cannot remember the last time I cut steel with it!But.....I do see some grass under the implement you are working on....the plasma will need power and compressed air if you are in the field....so it can get a little more complicated.Jim ColtLast edited by jimcolt; 12-21-2011 at 09:37 AM.
Reply:Originally Posted by jimcolt It takes about 1/2 second to pierce through 3/8" steel with a Hypertherm Powermax45....the blowback in minimal, steerable (in most cases) and generally is not an issue. Jim Colt
Reply:One second?? Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I know plasma is here to stay, and it's good in it's own rightBUT ONE SECOND?? That triggers a " Pants on fire" alert"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:I see a Detroit challenge on the horizon"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/I hope plasma is here to stay! As of next month I have worked for Hypertherm for 35 years....it fed and educated my children.....And Hypertherm just had another record sales year.Seriously....all tools have their best niche. Neither plasma or oxy-fuel are perfect for all applications. I'm just here to keep people updated on what the latest plasma technology can do for you.....I steer people to other sheet and plate cutting processes every day when it fits their needs better than plasma.Jim Colt
Reply:Jim congrats. on the 35 years, I just retired from Anheuser-Busch with 36 years. It can change real quick, if someone buys them out. A-B changed over night, anyway I'm looking to buy a plasma cutter and just decided on the HT 45. Thanks everyone for all the input! Ron
Reply:Well...if another company bought Hypertherm they would have to buy it from the owners....who happen to be the employees. Hypertherm is an American success story...starting in a two car garage in 1968....today we have over 1300 employee owners....and export about 60% of our products outside of N. America.Jim
Reply:Originally Posted by woi2ldman i dont even think of the words 'plasma cutter' anymore , i only hear ' HyperTherm'
Reply:I am with the OA torch guys for cutting the thick or remote location stuff. Buy a plasma for the thickness you cut most of the time a keep the torch around for the thicker stuff. Ill be the first to buy a Powermax 85 if I come across a good deal on a used one thoughTiger Sales: AHP Distributor www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P, Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma. For Sale: Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun. Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:thermal dynamics za good units i have a cutmaster 100 its been good...hypertherm are good as well. I would give a miller, lincoln or hobart a try as well. |
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发表于 2021-8-31 22:20:52