Supercut50/Forcecut50D vs PowerPlasma50/Forcecut50i

[longevity]

I believe that you will be proven incorrect on this! Some of the US plasma and welding equipment mfgr's have laid off US workers and farmed work to China. Some (most notably, Hypertherm) have not. Hypertherm is by far the fastest growing plasma system manufacturer, and is the largest......with all products designed, engineered and built in the US. Hypertherm's fastest growing region is China. US products selling in China.

Chinese citizens are demanding improvements in their standards of living, wages and benefits are rising and work weeks are getting shorter. The Chinese have the capability to build high quality products (Apple's Ipad and Iphone are built by $2 an hour workers, mostly aged 17 to 25....living in large dormitories....their suicide rate is extremely high....this from yesterday's ABC news report). With lower volume industrial equipment however....the labor is higher, the volume is lower....and when you add shipping costs to the product....and assuming the product is of similar performance and reliability ...it will cost the same as the US made products. (case in point...Japanese Cars)

US companies that work hard to modernize and improve manufacturing, work hard for continuous improvement, and work hard to ensure their employees are happy....will continue to be very competitive on the world market.

The Chinese welding products that are flooding the US market are not comparable (using the key words performance, reliability) to the domestic products. They are selling here in good numbers because they are very low cost....but they will not replace the high quality domestically produced systems from the major manufacturers.

I know that my company (Hypertherm) could build a plasma cutter in our plants in the US that would compete pricewise with the low cost imports. To do so we would have to take steps backwards in terms of performance and reliability......as well as with safety and with proper electrical certification. We have chosen not to do that!


Jim Colt

Jim,

I read your posts on Pirate and other forums. I am a fan as I know you are knowledgeable in your field. I must say hypertherm is a great company. I support USA manufacturing whenever possible. However, we at LONGEVITY employ Americans and provide a product to those who cannot afford a Hypertherm priced product.

We may not be as big as Hypertherm or Miller or Lincoln, but having our products produced overseas does not mean the quality is inferior.

Take Thermadyne for example, some of their machines are made overseas and from what I have seen at the factories, they produce a quality cutter. Not only that the same factories also produce for other major brands.

Bottom line, there are CRAP manufacturers all over the world. There are also good ones. We just like Praxair, Lincoln, Miller, Esab hire an R and D group - much smaller than theirs, but we do to insure our demands are met when producing overseas.

In the end, customer support and standing behind the product is the most important thing. Even if the Chinese or US manufacturers produce something awful, the company that sells it needs to back the buyer 100%.

As far as jobs, we create opportunities for many who are able to finally afford equipment, and acquire jobs on welding thus earning an income. From fences, to fixing cars, to whatever out there - competition has lowered the price and the consumers win. Not to mention, all of the residual drive companies like ours offer to the US GDP.

My 2cents.

Simon Katz
LONGEVITY Welding

 

[longevity]

Getting back to the questions about the ForceCut 50i and the ForceCut 50D

The ForceCut 50D is strictly a hobbyist unit. It does not have CNC ability and has a smaller duty cycle. If you are ever looking at a CNC table, the ForceCut 50i offers Blow Back start and will not interfere with your CNC tables or electronics around you.

It also has a higher duty cycle and IGBT technology as seen in the big brands. If you would like, we can have one of our welders discuss the model differences with you.

The CEO of Torchmate, Bill Kunz, once said our ForceCut 50i was the best plasma cutter he has seen for the price.

Call us at: 510-887-7090

 

[Sublifer]

Have you done much reserch into the oxg/fuel cutting since acy is so high? I'm trying to figure it out now.

I have done some research. oxy propane can cut as thick if not thicker than acy supposedly. Main trick is that the heat is at or just past the tip of the flame.

The only downside I've seen is that you can't weld with oxy/propane but I think if you needed to you could pick up a small bottle of MAPP to weld with then back to propane for heating and cutting.

More upsides is that while the flame doesn't get as hot as Acy it does have more btu's. (I do not understand that exactly but oh well) Also it is safer to store and transport and it has more usable fuel per weight of cylinder.

Edit: Oh, forget to mention the cost. Propane is supposed to be much cheaper than Acy but note that you will use twice as much oxygen if I've read correctly. (so get a bigger oxy bottle)

 

[rhett]

I have done some research. oxy propane can cut as thick if not thicker than acy supposedly. Main trick is that the heat is at or just past the tip of the flame.

The only downside I've seen is that you can't weld with oxy/propane but I think if you needed to you could pick up a small bottle of MAPP to weld with then back to propane for heating and cutting.

More upsides is that while the flame doesn't get as hot as Acy it does have more btu's. (I do not understand that exactly but oh well) Also it is safer to store and transport and it has more usable fuel per weight of cylinder.

Edit: Oh, forget to mention the cost. Propane is supposed to be much cheaper than Acy but note that you will use twice as much oxygen if I've read correctly. (so get a bigger oxy bottle)

YES ... good info ... push or shove = bottles iz foe diss drunkard ... =
tizz da field - not da luxury ub yo shop-roof-trailer-umbrella-so'on...
blazma iz misleadsing, ya gotta tote a compressor, power source and air dryer, den still dey be lumited in purfoomance...
I onleeze triun too said what works.
me fields ain't gots grid power.
If by chance, needs are for a shop environment, they would be a great tool..
Oh, did I blow a circuit breaker?

Darn politics.....
:confused2:

 

[longevity]

YES ... good info ... push or shove = bottles iz foe diss drunkard ... =
tizz da field - not da luxury ub yo shop-roof-trailer-umbrella-so'on...
blazma iz misleadsing, ya gotta tote a compressor, power source and air dryer, den still dey be lumited in purfoomance...
I onleeze triun too said what works.
me fields ain't gots grid power.
If by chance, needs are for a shop environment, they would be a great tool..
Oh, did I blow a circuit breaker?

Darn politics.....
:confused2:

Mine is blown!