Plasma Cutter recommendations.

[Industrial Toys]

Me too. You can always push it beyond it's limit and count on it to work. Prosumer stuff, well not so much.

BUT, in welders of a certain class, that really is being taken over by the prosumer, build it cheaper all the time, thinking. I am curious, how one can make the distinction? Duty cycle maybe?

 

[BufordBoone]

All great info. Love this place.

I'm leaning toward a unit that is dual voltage. When I want to cut small stuff, easy peasy. If I need more capability, I'll take the item over to the 220v outlet.

With Gouging, I see some machines list that ability, some don't. I'm guessing that all will gouge to some extent. Those that specifically list it do it more efficiently. Is that about right?

 

[Big Barn]

I’ve owned plasma cutters for over twenty years now.

I suppose it’s because I’ve never had the time or patience to really experiment, but my experience with a 45 amp (+ or -) is to leave the dial setting at full amps when cutting anything over 16 gauge and adjust my cutting speed accordingly.

I have a 100 amp cutter and I haven’t had occasion to use it much but I am assuming that a bit of adjustment may be necessary because of the larger amperage range.

 

[johncanfield]

....BUT, in welders of a certain class, that really is being taken over by the prosumer, build it cheaper all the time, thinking. I am curious, how one can make the distinction? Duty cycle maybe?

Duty cycle is one important attribute for the guy that's in a shop welding all day long. I have a Hobart IronMan 230 (250 amps) with about a 30-50% duty cycle, I forgot exactly but I've never had it shut down due to duty cycle. For me, hobby and ranch welding, availability of service is important. I did not want to pack up a 50 pound welder and sent it to Washington or California for service. For a shop or pro weldor, down time is critical. (Welder= the box, weldor= the person .) They need fast local service.

All great info. Love this place.

I'm leaning toward a unit that is dual voltage. When I want to cut small stuff, easy peasy. If I need more capability, I'll take the item over to the 220v outlet.

With Gouging, I see some machines list that ability, some don't. I'm guessing that all will gouge to some extent. Those that specifically list it do it more efficiently. Is that about right?

I have a small Esab 161LTS DC inverter welder (that could convert to TIG) that's dual voltage - a fantastic little box and does a great job running on 120V when I don't have 220V available. About gouging - I never investigated that capability, I bought my Hypertherm 45 assuming it would do anything I needed (haven't been disappointed.)

....I suppose it’s because I’ve never had the time or patience to really experiment, but my experience with a 45 amp (+ or -) is to leave the dial setting at full amps when cutting anything over 16 gauge and adjust my cutting speed accordingly.

I have a 100 amp cutter and I haven’t had occasion to use it much but I am assuming that a bit of adjustment may be necessary because of the larger amperage range.

I usually dial down the amperage when I'm cutting thin plate, makes for a smaller kerf and less slag to knock off on the bottom

 

[BufordBoone]

From reading a lot of older posts, I see where the Hyper Therm allows "Drag Cutting".

Does this mean you can drag the electrode on the workpiece instead of having to maintain a certain gap? Do other machines not allow that? Does it eat up consumables faster if you drag it on the workpiece?

 

[ovrszd]

I drag cut with my Miller.

 

[Oldpath05]

$700.00-ish four months ago.

 

[TMGT]

From reading a lot of older posts, I see where the Hyper Therm allows "Drag Cutting".

Does this mean you can drag the electrode on the workpiece instead of having to maintain a certain gap? Do other machines not allow that? Does it eat up consumables faster if you drag it on the workpiece?

You can drag cut with hypertherm, it's actually the shield that contacts the work peice, doesn't effect the nozzle. The biggest killers for consumables is piercing and blowback from traveling too fast.

I have 2 hypertherms, a 45 I've had for about 8 years (bought used) and a 105 I use on my cnc table (bought used about 2years ago)

I personally prefer the Hypertherm products.

 

[dragoneggs]

From reading a lot of older posts, I see where the Hyper Therm allows "Drag Cutting".

Does this mean you can drag the electrode on the workpiece instead of having to maintain a certain gap? Do other machines not allow that? Does it eat up consumables faster if you drag it on the workpiece?

Yes, they make drag cutting tips. That's pretty much all I do is drag cut against a straight edge or freehand for shapes.

 

[johncanfield]

Yes, they make drag cutting tips. That's pretty much all I do is drag cut against a straight edge or freehand for shapes.

Yup, I drag cut with my Hypertherm 45 99% of the time following a template or a straight edge.