Do plasma cutters require external air source?

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Hi there I am new Just wondering if plasma cutters  require an external air source like a compressor or they have built in compressors?I want to buy one but I can't if it requires external air compressor . I'm confused if they need one or not lol.ThanksLast edited by hotpaws; 04-09-2010 at 10:55 PM.
Reply:external.   compressors are very handy to have around you might want to get one-- fredLincoln 180C MIG
Reply:Well thanks for the reply , that is  such a bummer , I really have never needed air for anything and I don't have a garage or permanent spot to keep it. Well I guess its back to the holesaws
Reply:They make them with built in compressors, but only small once. Hypertherm 190CIf you cannot convince them, confuse them.         Harry S Truman
Reply:oh i only need to cut 1/4so that would be nice
Reply:Originally Posted by hotpawsoh i only need to cut 1/4so that would be nice
Reply:Reading this post I instantly had a brain-film of a stout Scotsman with a Hypertherm bagpipe model.   " If it ain't arm pit powered......it's CRRRAP!!!"200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the welderReading this post I instantly had a brain-film of a stout Scotsman with a Hypertherm bagpipe model.   " If it ain't arm pit powered......it's CRRRAP!!!"
Reply:maybe just bed time. this site is addictive! 200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:Out of curiosity, does anyone run a plasma cutter with smaller compressors (e.g. 6 gallon tank).  I imagine how well that works depends on how much sustained cutting you do, but I was just curious to see if using a small compressor is a reasonable option.
Reply:Originally Posted by bert the weldermaybe just bed time. this site is addictive!
Reply:I believe Hobart and  Miller also make small plasma cutters with built in air compressors.Most units require an external air supply though. You need to use a good air filtering unit that will remove all particulate and moisture from from your supply air with a plasma cutter.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I know the cheapo one the school uses is hooked to what looks to be a 50 or 75 gallon shop compressor though I'm not sure on the hp.
Reply:Makes me wonder about using a few dive tanks as an air source in a remote location lol... not sure why though... one of those weird off the wall idea's that really solves nothing."...My pappy was a pistol I'm a son of a gun...""...God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy..."
Reply:"Makes me wonder about using a few dive tanks as an air source in a remote location lol... not sure why though... one of those weird off the wall idea's that really solves nothing."Solves SOMETHING if you need to run out and make cuts where you have no portable high volume compressor and do have dive tanks. If you have dive tanks I don't see any reason not to have utility regulators etc that support using them for everything from a plasma air supply to running impact wrenches. I don't dive but I wouldn't mind having a set to add to my Useful Compressed Gas Cylinder collection.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmall"Makes me wonder about using a few dive tanks as an air source in a remote location lol... not sure why though... one of those weird off the wall idea's that really solves nothing."Solves SOMETHING if you need to run out and make cuts where you have no portable high volume compressor and do have dive tanks. If you have dive tanks I don't see any reason not to have utility regulators etc that support using them for everything from a plasma air supply to running impact wrenches. I don't dive but I wouldn't mind having a set to add to my Useful Compressed Gas Cylinder collection.
Reply:You can run them NO Problems on high pressure compressed air cylinders.   with the right regulators and settings it works beautifully.   The only down side is without fail you will run out of air when your about 90% done with what you were doing.  You can use a smaller compressor in the 5-10 gallon range, if your making cuts of less than 12" and not very often.     You can very easily burn up a cheaper compressor without even trying.Fronius Makes a 220V plasma cutter that does not use ANY compressed air at all.  Instead it uses water to make steam as a cutting medium. http://www.fronius.com/new/transcut300Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by DualieYou can run them NO Problems on high pressure compressed air cylinders.   with the right regulators and settings it works beautifully.   The only down side is without fail you will run out of air when your about 90% done with what you were doing.  You can use a smaller compressor in the 5-10 gallon range, if your making cuts of less than 12" and not very often.     You can very easily burn up a cheaper compressor without even trying.Fronius Makes a 220V plasma cutter that does not use ANY compressed air at all.  Instead it uses water to make steam as a cutting medium. http://www.fronius.com/new/transcut300
Reply:A couple of things,In a pinch, a jig saw (slow speed) or a saws-all will get you buy.  1/4 steel is tough on jig saws.  3/16 is the most I'm comfortable cutting.  1/4 takes toooo long.  Buy yourself a nice Bosch jig saw.  About $175.Milwaukee also made a portable band saw.  I think it will cut 4" round.  Neighbor has one he uses to cut small I-beams, cuts in 4" from each side.Then there's oxy/acetylene cutting.  Equipment is cheaper than plasma, but you need to use a little more caution (recommend you take a class on oxy/acetylene welding and cutting at community college or similar just to get the safety part down).A good compressor has lots of uses.  Consider buying a decent one as an investment, not just a one time cut some steel thing.  I bought my Craftsman 5hp (real 5hp) back in 1988.  Still running strong (well, strong enough, hard to tell it charges the tank reasonably fast and it keeps up with my Hypertherm 1000).  A carpenter's pancake compressor is good for running a nail gun.  Not even close.
Reply:I bought the small Lincoln 25... and tried hooking to my Hausfeld 6 gal compressor with a small air filter in between.  I'm new to plasma and for me... it didn't really work well.  I added a spendy Speedy air filter used mainly for quality paint spraying (which I kinda wanted anywho and then went up to my 30 gallon compressor and things began to make sense.  I've not tried it on thick stuff but it cuts aluminum like  butterLincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools