Hypertherm 30 xp

joeu235 · Nov 4, 2015

I bought a Hypertherm 30XP plasma cutter last week. So for I've used it mostly coping 2 3/8 drill stem, pattern cutting pipe joints that meet at a 60 degree angle. This thing is awesome. I find it amazing that compressed air and electricity can cut through 3/16 pipe effortlessly.

Shield Arc · Nov 4, 2015

joeu235 said:
I find it amazing that compressed air and electricity can cut through 3/16 pipe effortlessly.

Oh they can do better than that!

CNC Dan · Nov 4, 2015

joeu235 said:
I bought a Hypertherm 30XP plasma cutter last week. So for I've used it mostly coping 2 3/8 drill stem, pattern cutting pipe joints that meet at a 60 degree angle. This thing is awesome. I find it amazing that compressed air and electricity can cut through 3/16 pipe effortlessly.

Now you can't live without one. Just like getting your first cell phone.

I have an earlier version of your machine, and I find that you can cut much thicker than it's rated for. I once beveled a 5/8" snowplow cutting edge. I thought it would eat up one set of consumables, but both the nozzle and the electrode looked fine when I was done.

woodskiff · Nov 5, 2015

Agree! I looked at the 45 vs 30xp. Ended up with the 30xp and it is truly a fantastic tool for me. Make sure you register it with Hypertherm and sign up for the ARC news letter. Filled with info and ideas. Great NH company that's employee owned.
Oops ---- Spark not Arc

jimcolt · Nov 5, 2015

Thanks for buying the 30XP!

Jim Colt Hypertherm

Hilbilly · Nov 7, 2015

I bought my 30XP a few months ago, after agonizing over spending that much for something I would rarely use. Now I look for excuses to cut steel and look forward to it. I just recently made a 4 way splitter for my log splitter. Most of the steel was 3/8" and 1/2". All cut with the 30xp. Cutting the 1/2" was not slow at all and the cut quality was great. I even cut some 1/2" at about a 30 degree angle. That was very slow and the results weren't the best. But that is way more depth than the machine is rated for and it saved me a ton of grinding. So now I am thinking I should have bought the 45. Kind of like 2 footitis with boats.

Yesterday I had to cut away some steel attached to the frame of my quad and the 30xp made it an easy task. I would never have attempted it with oxy/fuel. Today I get to weld it back together with my MIG. Another favorite tool.

I hope you enjoy your 30xp as much as I enjoy mine.

jimcolt · Nov 21, 2015

The 30XP is truly industrial performance and quality in a plasma cutter that is focused on the small shop / hobbyist. It is more expensive to buy as compared to the dozens of Asian import plasma cutters, however it will prove to be a tool that is lower cost to use (about 6x to 10x the consumable life of other plasmas) and while it is rated at only 30 Amps output it will cut circles around most 40 and 50 amp plasma cutters. If you are looking to buy a plasma cutter....see if you can test cut at the local suppliers. A couple of cuts on various thicknesses will definitely demonstrate the difference in technology.

Jim Colt

ModMech · Nov 21, 2015

Jim is right, I had an older Hypertherm that I let go with all my other welding equipment last year after I got hurt. That thing was AWESOME, the only thing an O-A torch could do that it did not do BETTER was heating metal. I love the surgical precision of plasma!

Now I'm stuck looking for one of the "Angry Beavers" from the TV ad to cut metal with....

Shield Arc · Nov 21, 2015

What I love about my Hypertherm 1250, is the scarfing option. It will scarf a weld out without
having to deal with the carbon deposits of carbon arc gouging. :thumbsup:

STx · Nov 21, 2015

I am very jealous of your plasma cutter but for pipe notching, you might want to look into something like this - https://www.jd2.com/p-63-notchmaster.aspx. I have one of these and it really makes the job easy. I'm amazed at how long a bi-metal hole saw will last on one of these when lubricated, I've made about 100 cuts with mine so far and am still on my first one.

dragoneggs · Nov 24, 2015

The only thing holding me back from getting the 30XP is that if I ever get a CNC table, it isn't compatible from what I understand. That said, I will probably never buy a CNC table as that is simply a dream for now. I guess the other more salient reason is that I don't have proper air set up yet and working off of an old craftsman 220v 20gal compressor. And that's because I want to expand my shop first... and that probably should wait until the master bed/bath is done or I will need to add a bunk in my shop!

Maybe I should just pull the trigger on the 30XP and see what my compressor can handle with it?

BukitCase · Nov 24, 2015

Dragon, I have one of those compressors (not currently in service) and there's a good chance it would keep up with the plaz - just be sure to do something like this so your air isn't killing consumables... Steve

Big Barn · Nov 24, 2015

BukitCase said:
Dragon, I have one of those compressors (not currently in service) and there's a good chance it would keep up with the plaz - just be sure to do something like this so your air isn't killing consumables... Steve

Mark, it looks like one of these is in your future:

Note bottom drawers for storage of welding and plasma consumables, AD hood, gloves, pajamas....

Terry

jimcolt · Nov 29, 2015

There are a lot of Powermax30XP's on cnc machines. Hypertherm does not produce a machine torch or an easy electrical interface as the 30XP was not specifically designed with power levels and duty cycle that would be best suited for CNC cutting.....like the Powermax45 and larger systems.

Many of today's cnc tables are available with torch holders for a hand torch, and you need to get inside the power supply to make 4 connections (2 wires for start, two wires for arc voltage feedback for height control) for the cnc electrical interface.

I installed my 30XP on my home shop machine (Plasmacam) and it is a great cutter if you are doing the majority of your cutting on materials thinner than 1/4", I can see them as almost perfect for metal art as well as low duty cycle hobby type use.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

dragoneggs said:
The only thing holding me back from getting the 30XP is that if I ever get a CNC table, it isn't compatible from what I understand. That said, I will probably never buy a CNC table as that is simply a dream for now. I guess the other more salient reason is that I don't have proper air set up yet and working off of an old craftsman 220v 20gal compressor. And that's because I want to expand my shop first... and that probably should wait until the master bed/bath is done or I will need to add a bunk in my shop!

Maybe I should just pull the trigger on the 30XP and see what my compressor can handle with it?

joeu235 · Nov 29, 2015

I've been using a DeWalt 15 gallon compressor and it keeps up just fine. I have moisture separator in the garage but when I used the setup remotely I can see a big change in consumable usage.

Rustyiron · Nov 29, 2015

Shield Arc said:
What I love about my Hypertherm 1250, ….. :thumbsup:

That must be the "vintage" of my smaller Hypertherm PM900. I just upgraded to the new torch, I think they call it the "powermax" and it's supposed to have a better consum. life. Too soon for me to tell.