Which plasma cutter?

[Carol in CA]

Decision made! Scored a HyperTherm PowerMax 45. Considered an Everlast from Mark but it was not in stock and then this popped up. Brought it home an hour ago. Even got a lesson on using it, sources for fairly priced consumables and a few words of wisdom on air driers, air requirements, drag tips, mig lube and all sorts of information. Thanks, Ed in Fontana.

BTW, thanks Mark for answering my questions even if a sale was not meant to be.

 

[ericher69]

Decision made! Scored a HyperTherm PowerMax 45. Considered an Everlast from Mark but it was not in stock and then this popped up. Brought it home an hour ago. Even got a lesson on using it, sources for fairly priced consumables and a few words of wisdom on air driers, air requirements, drag tips, mig lube and all sorts of information. Thanks, Ed in Fontana. BTW, thanks Mark for answering my questions even if a sale was not meant to be.

congrats! If you really did buy one; no pictures, no proof

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[Carol in CA]

Sorry. Its raining here and its dark. Pix will have to wait. LOL!

 

[BukitCase]

Carol, I have a PM45 - you'll need to get thicker projects than the ones you're working on before you want more. I've cut up to 1 inch stuff with mine, it's kinda slow at that thickness but does a good job if you practice controlling your torch travel speed.

Just when you thought you were home free... Whatcha got for air? You'll need CLEAN DRY air, at least 6 CFM @ 90 psi minimum.

This is what I did for mine - The yellow thingie is a painting filter, and the fat black thingie is a Motorguard filter - air from the compressor goes thru the painting filter and then the Motorguard, and the combo gives me very dry clean air. I'm stll on my first set of consumables - not that I've used it a LOT, but I bought the PM45 just over three years ago. The smaller black thingie with the gauge on it is a pressure regulator, because the PM45 wants less than 135 psi input, and my compressor puts out 175.

If your air isn't clean and dry, you will go thru consumables quite a bit faster, and they're not real cheap.

Any other advice I could give has already been mentioned here, enjoy your new machine... Steve

 

[Big Barn]

Carol, I have a PM45 - you'll need to get thicker projects than the ones you're working on before you want more. I've cut up to 1 inch stuff with mine, it's kinda slow at that thickness but does a good job if you practice controlling your torch travel speed. Just when you thought you were home free... Whatcha got for air? You'll need CLEAN DRY air, at least 6 CFM @ 90 psi minimum. This is what I did for mine - The yellow thingie is a painting filter, and the fat black thingie is a Motorguard filter - air from the compressor goes thru the painting filter and then the Motorguard, and the combo gives me very dry clean air. I'm stll on my first set of consumables - not that I've used it a LOT, but I bought the PM45 just over three years ago. The smaller black thingie with the gauge on it is a pressure regulator, because the PM45 wants less than 135 psi input, and my compressor puts out 175. If your air isn't clean and dry, you will go thru consumables quite a bit faster, and they're not real cheap. Any other advice I could give has already been mentioned here, enjoy your new machine... Steve

Steve I like your setup. I don't like the use of gear type hose clamps on air hoses but I did notice you taped over the sharp edges for protection on the regulated side. Just wanted to mention that a buddy of mine working in an auto body shop got permanently disabled when a 'repaired ' air hose let go and the edge of the stainless gear clamp went whipping around slicing his arm and leg in the process.

This was a couple of years ago and he was retrained and now works as an estimator in the same industry.

Didn't mean to derail, but felt that I should mention this.

Terry

 

[BukitCase]

Terry, I don't like hose clamps much either, but sometimes they are the lesser of two evils - that pic is an old one, since it was taken I've added a 3 drawer "intermediate" section between the PM45 and the roll-around -

But more important, I shortened the hose to the cutter and ran it BEHIND the filter/regulator assembly - I also removed the QD fitting from the rear of the PM45 and added another of those swivel fittings - I didn't like that much "lever" on something that attaches to the internals of something I'd rather not have to repair -

It's much neater now, and if the hose ever lets go it will have less free length to whip around :thumbsup:

Eventually I'll get around to making a different retaining setup - I know how much you hate straps, kinda like I hate "Un-shiny" metal ...Steve

Carol, sorry if we shanghai'd your thread but you may wanna borrow some of these ideas for YOUR new "friend", if not just tell us to MYOB :hissyfit:

 

[Big Barn]

- But more important, I shortened the hose to the cutter and ran it BEHIND the filter/regulator assembly - I also removed the QD fitting from the rear of the PM45 and added another of those swivel fittings - I didn't like that much "lever" on something that attaches to the internals of something I'd rather not have to repair :

Carol, Shiny Steve makes a good point concerning leverage on your plasma's air inlet. His swivel fitting choice is a good one, but if you are like me and not as financially endowed as Steve, here is my cheaper alternative.



Terry

 

[BukitCase]

Financially endowed??!?

1/4 in. Air Hose Swivel Connector

I'm pretty sure that (If I WERE "financially endowed") I'd have even more pics of cool stuff than Shield posts, :laughing: including at least a 4x4 CNC table, lathe, etc... but now that I'm "officially" retired, it's a bummer not having all that OT $$$ coming in. It IS nice not to have ME "coming in" to a job I'd barely learned to tolerate tho...

Here's what the plaz looks like now - note the slightly modified garden hose hanger, doesn't put kinks in $500 torches... Steve

 

[Cat_Driver]

HyperTherm PowerMax 45...the GOLD standard or torches. I got one a year ago after exhaustive research

 

[ericher69]

Financially endowed??!? 1/4 in. Air Hose Swivel Connector I'm pretty sure that (If I WERE "financially endowed") I'd have even more pics of cool stuff than Shield posts, :laughing: including at least a 4x4 CNC table, lathe, etc... but now that I'm "officially" retired, it's a bummer not having all that OT $$$ coming in. It IS nice not to have ME "coming in" to a job I'd barely learned to tolerate tho... Here's what the plaz looks like now - note the slightly modified garden hose hanger, doesn't put kinks in $500 torches... Steve

Steve

I'm sure your not suffering if you have a 252, 210xt and a pm45...

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