Hypertherm 30xp vs 45 decision?

[dragoneggs]

Awesome, keep us posted with pics.

Well Happy, I couldn't hold off. I braved the cold and assembled the 45xp and made my first cuts. Dang fun. Free handed and straight edged a few pieces. 12g mild steel, .080 and 1/4in aluminum. I hope I can someday do this thing justice.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

Atta Boy! Getting at it! Have fun!

 

[TMGT]

I like what they did with the xp, I have the earlier PM45 and love it, built many a projects and even made quite a bit of money with it.
I think my next one will be a little bigger unit but but if I was in the market again I would be buying the XP.

You'll be amazed how quick your projects move along now!
Don't forget you'll need to start getting some accessories.
Circle cutter was the first thing I made.

 

[dragoneggs]

Well it didn't take long to realize I need a downdraft or water table to collect the debris now! I was tasting/smelling the burnt particles when I went out to my shop this morning and it was awful.

 

[TMGT]

I do all my cutting outside right now, also get a good respirator. I use a 3m that also fits under my welding helmet.
3M 6200 HALF MASK RESPIRATOR WITH P100 FILTER CARTRIDGES SIZE MEDIUM | eBay

 

[Shield Arc]

Burning over water is the best way to go!:thumbsup:
What about copying my burning table, and use a shop vac to suck up the smoke? Or incorporate a water tray just under the grate.

 

[Big Barn]

Congrats, Mark.

I like to keep a variety of different diameter round (or other) items around for templates. Even an assortment of old fry pans are nice to use for radiuses. (Plus they have handles )



I use a Miller fume extractor with my (manual) cutting table for plaz and O/A.



Hole templates purchased off eBay

Terry

 

[dragoneggs]

I do all my cutting outside right now, also get a good respirator. I use a 3m that also fits under my welding helmet.
3M 6200 HALF MASK RESPIRATOR WITH P100 FILTER CARTRIDGES SIZE MEDIUM | eBay

Yep have one of them... a little older model but same filters. I had to go on board a Navy ship to train and inspect an installation using adhesives down in a poorly ventilated area and they issued me one for free.

Burning over water is the best way to go!:thumbsup:
What about copying my burning table, and use a shop vac to suck up the smoke? Or incorporate a water tray just under the grate.

I might just do that! Thanks... what are the dimensions of your table? Gonna need something until I invest in a plasma cam system. Time to head over to Pacific Welding Supply for more steel :licking:

Congrats, Mark.

I like to keep a variety of different diameter round (or other) items around for templates. Even an assortment of old fry pans are nice to use for radiuses. (Plus they have handles )

View attachment 492894


I use a Miller fume extractor with my (manual) cutting table for plaz and O/A.

View attachment 492896

Hole templates purchased off eBay

Terry

Exactly what I wanted to do first is make some templates. I did see those templates on eBay and those might be a quick and easy way for smaller holes. Have to find that link again. Those fume extractors must be good... they want a pretty penny for them! I will need a MacGvyer version for now.

 

[dragoneggs]

Terry, can you post that eBay link? I thought you posted it earlier but I'm not finding them on eBay.

 

[Shield Arc]

The grate / top is:
24" X 30"
Top of grate to floor is:
42"
Top of funnel is:
23 1/2" X 31 1/2"
Funnel is 23" tall. Bottom of funnel is 6"

 

[Big Barn]

Terry, can you post that eBay link? I thought you posted it earlier but I'm not finding them on eBay.

Here's their website. They also have grates to place over your own water barrel. Prolly cheaper than one could make for themselves..


Welcome to 911 Motorsports -


Terry

 

[Big Barn]

BTW. If you need a slightly larger table than Shield Arc's, mine is 28" x60". The underside is enclosed (with a hinged bottom) to contain slag/dross.





Shield Arc also has a cool ROTATING cutting table. Maybe he can be persuaded to post a pic.......

Terry

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks SA and BB... I got some thinking and designing to do. I think I will make it so it butts up to my crude welding table which is a 2ft by 4ft 1/2in steel plate on top of a Craftsman tool chest that I rescued from the metal recycle bin at the dump! Thinking out loud here, if I make the cutting table also 2ft by 4ft in area and the same height with casters, I could position it to give me either a 4ft by 4ft surface or 2ft by 8ft surface for longer pieces. Whatcha think?

 

[Shield Arc]

Shield Arc also has a cool ROTATING cutting table. Maybe he can be persuaded to post a pic.

Sure thing!
It works great for burning holes.

 

[Big Barn]

Mark

If you're REALLY tight on space, why not you just make a set of slide out extensions (on the 24" wide end) of your existing weld tabletop.

When extended, the " space" could serve as your cut area. This would also give you a little more area for your welding table when working with longer pieces.

Terry

 

[dragoneggs]

Mark

If you're REALLY tight on space, why not you just make a set of slide out extensions (on the 24" wide end) of your existing weld tabletop.

When extended, the " space" could serve as your cut area. This would also give you a little more area for your welding table when working with longer pieces.

Terry

Speaking of tight spaces... while I ponder the table question, tonight I built a rack that sits on top of my Harbor Freight welding cart to hold my new cutter. Got it all tacked together and fitted. Still need to finish welding, blast and paint. It fits the cutter snugly, Allows for the MIG side door to open and stay propped, and preserves the view of the gauges from the front.



Just realized though, my Miller canvas cover is now useless! :banghead: Oh well. Maybe I can get my wife to sew me a custom cover?

 

[bindian]

and preserves the view of the gauges from the front.
View attachment 492992

It's been a few years since I took welding in high school ag shop, but we were taught to keep all gauges (and regulators) facing upward. Is that still the saftey consensus today, or are today's gauges more reliable? I never thought about that using high pressure nitrogen around our aircraft.
HAPPY NEW YEAR hugs, Brandi

 

[sd455dan]

Well Happy, I couldn't hold off. I braved the cold and assembled the 45xp and made my first cuts. Dang fun. Free handed and straight edged a few pieces. 12g mild steel, .080 and 1/4in aluminum. I hope I can someday do this thing justice.

View attachment 492845

View attachment 492846

:laughing: Me to ( waiting for the temp to warm up that is)
have been wanting to build a press out of some new and old steel and just couldn't wait either.
1st drilled some 7/8 holes for pins- and once my uninsulated shop warmed up to a balmy 26* went at it with my 3 in 1 plasma cutter/welder
and split a 6 1/2 foot 4 x 4 square tube for the uprights and also cut some 4" x 8" inch I beams into pieces i could use. It was cold -but worth it to get started on a new project.

Congrats on your new Hypertherm plasma cutter :thumbsup:

It is amazing how many uses a plasma cutter can make easy work of. I know a lot of the threads posts on some of the welding sites say that an oxy/torch set can do everything and more than a plasma cutter but the plasma is just so much easier/and faster (at least it seems that way to me) to do quick cut jobs with, that I use it far more often than the torch. anyway
Enjoy the new machine and stay warm

 

[Big Barn]

:laughing: Me to ( waiting for the temp to warm up that is)
have been wanting to build a press out of some new and old steel and just couldn't wait either.
1st drilled some 7/8 holes for pins- and once my uninsulated shop warmed up to a balmy 26* View attachment 493055 went at it with my 3 in 1 plasma cutter/welder View attachment 493056
View attachment 493059 and split a 6 1/2 foot 4 x 4 square tube for the uprights and also cut some 4" x 8" inch I beams into pieces i could use. It was cold -but worth it to get started on a new project.

Congrats on your new Hypertherm plasma cutter :thumbsup:

It is amazing how many uses a plasma cutter can make easy work of. I know a lot of the threads posts on some of the welding sites say that an oxy/torch set can do everything and more than a plasma cutter but the plasma is just so much easier/and faster (at least it seems that way to me) to do quick cut jobs with, that I use it far more often than the torch. anyway
Enjoy the new machine and stay warm

You should start a thread over in the "Build It Yourself" section. I'm sure members other than myself would find it informative.

Terry

 

[sd455dan]

Will do-
i don't know how informative it will be, but there will definitely be a fair amount of (re-purposed) :laughing: materials used.