Hypertherm Powermax 30 Air

[HCJtractor]

Does anyone have any experience with the Powermax 30 Air? I've read some favorable reviews of it.

Having a built in air supply appeals to me. I wish they had this feature in the 40 amp model.

 

[HCJtractor]

Guess no one has experience with this newer model. I understand it’s a little less powerful than the standard Powermax 30, but still has power to cut 3/8 easily from what I’ve read. Anyone ever used it? But a little pricey.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

It should be a good model. However, knowing one of the industry examples of this type that have existed in the past with different manufacturer, the compressor is the weak point. The little compressor get hot, and runs a lot. I don't know if it is a ceramic compressor or not, but the TA Dragun had one. A friend of mine had one, and used it a lot and he rebuilt it at least once a year for several years until it could not be rebuilt anymore.

 

[HCJtractor]

Thanks Mark. Just trying to decide if I would use it much or if so, it would be powerful enough. Because I have no dedicated shop or large compressor, the simplicity was appealing. I’m now thinking that I would use a good cold cut chop saw more for the types of things I want to fabricate. Cutting angle, square tubing may not be a great use for a plasma.

 

[Shaneard]

If you’re gonna be cutting much angle or square tubing the fun factor will wear off quick if doing it with a plasma cutter. I’ve got a hypertherm plasma and don’t use it near as much as I used to. I have an Ellis 1600 metal saw that you can angle the head with the simple loosening of one quick turn of a bolt with a handle and also stand the head up and use it like an upright bandsaw. It gets used way more than the plasma, both have their place as well as a torch, chopsaw, you get the idea.

 

[HCJtractor]

Just looked up the Ellis saw. That’s very nice! I can see how that’s a great tool. My bandsaw looks primitive in comparison.

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks Mark. Just trying to decide if I would use it much or if so, it would be powerful enough. Because I have no dedicated shop or large compressor, the simplicity was appealing. I知 now thinking that I would use a good cold cut chop saw more for the types of things I want to fabricate. Cutting angle, square tubing may not be a great use for a plasma.

I have a Powermax 45XP. Love it! Does need a fair amount of air. I have a 60gal compressor but unfortunately only one 220v outlet for both! So I am swapping back and forth for plasma and air until I get my garage/shop rewired to better support the tool stations I am creating.

If you don't already have a chop saw or bandsaw I would get those first. The port-a-band saws are nice as they are portable and also can be mounted in a small table.

I have one of these SwagOffroad stands with a foot pedal on/off. Love it too! I do not like my abrasive chop saw. Someday I will swap that for a dry cut saw.

SWAG V3. Portaband Table

 

[yomax4]

It should be a good model. However, knowing one of the industry examples of this type that have existed in the past with different manufacturer, the compressor is the weak point. The little compressor get hot, and runs a lot. I don't know if it is a ceramic compressor or not, but the TA Dragun had one. A friend of mine had one, and used it a lot and he rebuilt it at least once a year for several years until it could not be rebuilt anymore.

This is correct. The Dragon Plus Thermal Dynamics had issues as will the PM 30 or Lincoln Tomahawk or Hobart Airforce. The air compressor has to run while cutting. In a few seconds it will be pumping hot air that causes condensation in the torch. Condensation is moisture and I think you know what moisture does in the plasma stream. Prepare to buy 4x more consumables than a standard type cutter. Most of those that bought Dragons and Pluses knew of the situation in advance and a few construction jobs paid for the unit so they didn't care. It's a simple case of Buyer beware. Other than that. They are all ok and do what they say. Good Luck!!

 

[11B2620]

Listen...... I went down to the welding shop to check plasma cutters out. A thousand dollars got you started... I then looked online. Check out Eastwood Auto Restoration Supplies - Eastwood Auto I bought their biggest plasma cutter 3 years ago. I melted the gun for it and was sent a new one FREE. Warranty is awesome. I also bought their Mig 250amp welder. I made my own spool holder for the 40 lb spools since they are only 15 dollars more than the 12 lb. I am on my 5th 40 lb spool with no hiccup. They simply work. And the consumables are easy to find. Just give them a look. If you want some pictures of it let me know. it severs 7/8 inch steel and I cut 3/8 inch almost daily with no problems.

 

[HCJtractor]

Thanks. I’ll check it out. But my problem is a minimal compressor, and not a great shop with proper electrical supply. I just ordered a dry cut chop saw. I think that will be used a lot. I have a portaband and an entry level bandsaw. So unless I need to cut odd shapes, I can live without a plasma. But that Hyperthem really is tempting to have.

 

[joeu235]

I run my Hypertherm 30XP with the following compressor regularly and it works great.

Amazon.com: DEWALT D55168 225 PSI 15 Gallon 12-Volt Electric Wheeled Portable Workshop Compressor: Home Improvement

 

[HCJtractor]

I run my Hypertherm 30XP with the following compressor regularly and it works great.

Amazon.com: DEWALT D55168 225 PSI 15 Gallon 12-Volt Electric Wheeled Portable Workshop Compressor: Home Improvement

Thank you. That’s the same compressor I have. What in-line water separator do you use? What thickness material cuts at a reasonable rate? I think it is rated for 1/2”.

 

[joeu235]

I don't have a water separator on my portable compressor. There is one built into the 30 XP and this seems sufficient.

I ran the 30 XP and DeWalt portable compressor a lot on a job during very humid weather. I had to change the consumables twice as often as I do on my shop compressor. I didn't think this was a big deal.

 

[lennyzx11]

After reading "lots" of reviews and watching videos plus getting questions answered by Jim Colt of Hypertherm, I just asked my local AirGas to order me a Powermax Air 30. I used the "Buy once, Cry once." reasoning for the purchase. I did consider others that were far cheaper.

The reasons for me were the reputation, the 110/220 connection, the ability to cut 1/2 inch steel, the built in air supply of course though I own air compressors, and the main one...

The fact that Jim took the time to answer my questions (some kinda unrelated) without any sales push where other representatives never even answered my emails meant a lot to me along with the fact that he advised to buy local which I wholeheartedly support. Surprisingly, they (local AirGas) offered me a better price than the online giants.

Though it is rated to cut a little less than the PM 30 XP without Air, I think that's fine. I'll just slow down or get it from both sides on the thick stuff if an alternative is not workable.

I think this will be a good partner to the Hobart MVP 210 for the kind of home fabricating that I like to do. And the ol tombstone under the bench.

I'll keep a running review going of how the thing works through the future.
I have never touched any plasma cutter so this will be a new experience for me. I feel pretty good when I manage a semi straight line cut with a cutting torch or bandsaw! Which seems to be not very often I've noticed....
Lenny

 

[dragoneggs]

After reading "lots" of reviews and watching videos plus getting questions answered by Jim Colt of Hypertherm, I just asked my local AirGas to order me a Powermax Air 30. I used the "Buy once, Cry once." reasoning for the purchase. I did consider others that were far cheaper.

The reasons for me were the reputation, the 110/220 connection, the ability to cut 1/2 inch steel, the built in air supply of course though I own air compressors, and the main one...

The fact that Jim took the time to answer my questions (some kinda unrelated) without any sales push where other representatives never even answered my emails meant a lot to me along with the fact that he advised to buy local which I wholeheartedly support. Surprisingly, they (local AirGas) offered me a better price than the online giants.

Though it is rated to cut a little less than the PM 30 XP without Air, I think that's fine. I'll just slow down or get it from both sides on the thick stuff if an alternative is not workable.

I think this will be a good partner to the Hobart MVP 210 for the kind of home fabricating that I like to do. And the ol tombstone under the bench.

I'll keep a running review going of how the thing works through the future.
I have never touched any plasma cutter so this will be a new experience for me. I feel pretty good when I manage a semi straight line cut with a cutting torch or bandsaw! Which seems to be not very often I've noticed....
Lenny

lenny, I agree... Jim Colt is a good guy and will steer you right. I had a couple online conversations with him and met him at Fabtech in Las Vegas. I got to try out the 45XP at the show and ask him a bunch of questions. The customer service and knowledge sold me.

I don't have any experience with 30 Air but see that unit as a speciality unit where you will be doing work where no air is possible. I think if you are doing light gauge stuff 'remotely' it would be a great tool. If you want to cut heavier stuff or aren't concerned about super portability, then a 30XP with a stand alone air compressor would do you better.

I went 45XP with dreams of maybe having a small CNC table in my future. If 110v is a requirement then the 30 series is your ticket. Not sure of how much less capability the 30Air vs. the XP is but I like to have more power than I think I need. Good luck!

 

[HCJtractor]

Will be interesting to hear how you like it. Keep us posted.

 

[lennyzx11]

Will be interesting to hear how you like it. Keep us posted.

Not to hijack HCJtractor’s thread. I picked up my Powermax air30 today. I wanted to install it in my cheap HF welding cart with the Hobart 210MVP but ran into the first problem. It wouldn’t fit in the bottom. Too tall.
So. I wasn’t taking the handle off. I looked at raising the upper shelf slightly but the depth wouldn’t allow the cutter to set flat because There is a lip on the bottom shelf.
So I cowboyed up and decided to use my new plasma cutter to cut metal(who woulda thought?) and trim the lip.

Short version. On 110volts and 20 degrees in the shop, it was like a butter knife cutting through the lip. 5 minutes later I was putting everything back on the cart.
The plasma cutter had to go on the bottom as the Hobart has a side opening door that opens to replace the wire spool.

So Day 1 Cut 1, this thing was impressive!

 

[dragoneggs]

Congrats, lenny! Enjoy your PC! Here is what I did to add my Hypertherm to my HF welding cart. I made a frame that fits on top and is offset so I can access the wire on my MIG. It's match painted now and looks like it belongs!



I coerced my wife to make a custom cover but this is going on a year + project as she isn't very excited and is trying to make it perfect.

 

[BukitCase]

Lenny, congrats on adding to your fab capabilities, you picked a good brand to avoid buyer's remorse :thumbsup:

I bought one of those same HF cheap carts for my little Tig/Stick Everlast (except I got my cart from Amazon so it's BETTER 'cause I PAID MORE )

Seriously tho, it appears to be identical but with a different NAME on it. Seeing what you did to yours so the 30air would fit, kinda makes me nervous for you - those things are marginal to begin with, so I can't help thinking that yours may give you problems with excess flex around the front casters. Pretty sure I woulda found a way to beef up that lower shelf with some angle UNDER the shelf.

My situation may be a bit different than yours, in that my "shop" areas are more gravel/dirt than concrete at the moment, so I modded my "crap cart" with bigger solid rubber rear tires and bigger, LOCKING front casters (I prefer to be the one who decides WHEN things can roll around)- I also threw away the chineseum bolts and assembled the cart with slightly bigger (likely STILL chineseum) ones

The bigger wheels/casters help noticeably with "rough terrain" - I also lengthened the rear axle (needed 5/8" diameter anyway), so went with allthread and a couple extra nuts - feels more stable with the slightly wider track -



I haven't measured yet, but expect that cart will go bye-bye when I get around to adding a tig cooler

Anyway, advise here is usually worth every penny you pay for it; I just hate to see ANYBODY have problems that could've been avoided, and I've messed with enough HF stuff to know that if something wasn't necessary it wouldn't have BEEN there... Steve

 

[lennyzx11]

Lenny, congrats on adding to your fab capabilities, you picked a good brand to avoid buyer's remorse :thumbsup:

I bought one of those same HF cheap carts for my little Tig/Stick Everlast (except I got my cart from Amazon so it's BETTER 'cause I PAID MORE )

Seriously tho, it appears to be identical but with a different NAME on it. Seeing what you did to yours so the 30air would fit, kinda makes me nervous for you - those things are marginal to begin with, so I can't help thinking that yours may give you problems with excess flex around the front casters. Pretty sure I woulda found a way to beef up that lower shelf with some angle UNDER the shelf.

My situation may be a bit different than yours, in that my "shop" areas are more gravel/dirt than concrete at the moment, so I modded my "crap cart" with bigger solid rubber rear tires and bigger, LOCKING front casters (I prefer to be the one who decides WHEN things can roll around)- I also threw away the chineseum bolts and assembled the cart with slightly bigger (likely STILL chineseum) ones

The bigger wheels/casters help noticeably with "rough terrain" - I also lengthened the rear axle (needed 5/8" diameter anyway), so went with allthread and a couple extra nuts - feels more stable with the slightly wider track -

View attachment 584830 View attachment 584831 View attachment 584832

I haven't measured yet, but expect that cart will go bye-bye when I get around to adding a tig cooler

Anyway, advise here is usually worth every penny you pay for it; I just hate to see ANYBODY have problems that could've been avoided, and I've messed with enough HF stuff to know that if something wasn't necessary it wouldn't have BEEN there... Steve

Thanks Steve. I did leave two 45 degree angles down on each side above the casters and a slight lip across the bottom to maintain rigidity but I will check and see if there is any flex. And beef up the bottom shelf like you describe if so.
Lenny