What can you expect from a plasma cutter?

[killdozerd11]

I work for Hypertherm....have been plasma cutting for 32 years. In my home shop I have 3 Hypertherm Plasma systems.....a Powermax30 with a hand torch, a Powermax45 mounted on a 4 x 4 cnc machine, and a Powermax1000 plasma . Hypertherm units are the top of the line when it comes to plasma....not the cheapest to buy, but after considering cut capability, consumable life, cut speed, cut quality and system reliability...they are by far the cheapest to own over time. Here is a picture of a few of the cuts out of my home/farm shop!

Jim Colt

In the second pic is that a Plasma Cam unit ??

 

[jimcolt]

Yes, I have my Powermax 45 mounted on a PlasmaCam 4 x 4 DHC2 machine.....I love the machine.....an incredible tool for any type of metal fab.

Jim

In the second pic is that a Plasma Cam unit ??

 

[tlbuser]

Yes, I have my Powermax 45 mounted on a PlasmaCam 4 x 4 DHC2 machine.....I love the machine.....an incredible tool for any type of metal fab.

Jim

So, what's the trick to get the automatic torch height control to work properly? I'm always having to fiddle with mine....

 

[jimcolt]

Which PlasmaCam model do you have? There have been three models.....the 98-z, the DHC and the DHC2. The 98Z had a drag type height control that actually emulated hand drag cutting.....it worked ok but tended to crash a lot. The DHC model was a big improvement with an arc voltage feedback torch height control......worked well, if you knew how to set the complicated settings in regards to material thickness....but many had trouble getting good results. The newest version, the DHC2 has an arc voltage THC with ohmic contact for initial height sensing. It finds the surface of the plate before each cut.....auto calibrates, then monitors and locks in on the arc voltage to maintain perfect height for every cut.

If you have the 98Z.....there is not much help for the THC.....although I could offer some guidance as I owned one of those for 7 years. If you have the DHC2.....I can direct you to a user group on Yahoo that can help you learn to make it work well......even better, there is a DHC2 upgrade kit available from PlasmaCam that provides all of the benefits of their newest model.

If you have a DHC2.....I can help you. Mine is in my home shop, I use it often, and the THC works very well.

Jim Colt

 

[killdozerd11]

Which PlasmaCam model do you have? There have been three models.....the 98-z, the DHC and the DHC2. The 98Z had a drag type height control that actually emulated hand drag cutting.....it worked ok but tended to crash a lot. The DHC model was a big improvement with an arc voltage feedback torch height control......worked well, if you knew how to set the complicated settings in regards to material thickness....but many had trouble getting good results. The newest version, the DHC2 has an arc voltage THC with ohmic contact for initial height sensing. It finds the surface of the plate before each cut.....auto calibrates, then monitors and locks in on the arc voltage to maintain perfect height for every cut.

If you have the 98Z.....there is not much help for the THC.....although I could offer some guidance as I owned one of those for 7 years. If you have the DHC2.....I can direct you to a user group on Yahoo that can help you learn to make it work well......even better, there is a DHC2 upgrade kit available from PlasmaCam that provides all of the benefits of their newest model.

If you have a DHC2.....I can help you. Mine is in my home shop, I use it often, and the THC works very well.

Jim Colt

Cool i'm thinking about buying one to do ornamental iron and other things
but i think doing security panels and doors with decorations would be a big seller with a lot of these retired folks around here.
Plane old bars do look bad on nice home.

But it can do a lot of other things too it's nice to find someone with first hand experience with the machine.I wondered what the ohmic adapter they talked about but didn't elaborate on was all about

Warning since you have a good amount of experience i will pick your brain if you let me. NA HA HA HA. oops My BAD

 

[jimcolt]

Pick my brain...I dare you! I've been plasma cutting...hand and cnc for over 30 years.....happy to share my experiences!

Jim

 

[tlbuser]

Which PlasmaCam model do you have? The DHC model was a big improvement with an arc voltage feedback torch height control......worked well, if you knew how to set the complicated settings in regards to material thickness....but many had trouble getting good results. The newest version, the DHC2 has an arc voltage THC with ohmic contact for initial height sensing. It finds the surface of the plate before each cut.....auto calibrates, then monitors and locks in on the arc voltage to maintain perfect height for every cut.

......even better, there is a DHC2 upgrade kit available from PlasmaCam that provides all of the benefits of their newest model.

If you have a DHC2.....I can help you. Mine is in my home shop, I use it often, and the THC works very well.

Jim Colt

I own a DHC unit. Contacted Plasmacam about an upgrade and was told, "Sorry, that was a year ago, we no longer have that but we'll let you trade yours in on a new one." Supposedly, all owners of record on file were contacted (NOT) and the upgrade was a one time good deal (BS).

 

[tlbuser]

Cool i'm thinking about buying one to do ornamental iron and other things
but i think doing security panels and doors with decorations would be a big seller with a lot of these retired folks around here.
Plane old bars do look bad on nice home.

But it can do a lot of other things too it's nice to find someone with first hand experience with the machine.I wondered what the ohmic adapter they talked about but didn't elaborate on was all about

Warning since you have a good amount of experience i will pick your brain if you let me. NA HA HA HA. oops My BAD

Don't limit your aspirations. Think yard art, garden entries, signage...........grapples, thumbs, etc. The list goes on.