The "Plasma Plunge" - Miller vs Thermal Dynamics

[plastikosmd]

went through the same search a few months ago. It came down to hypertherm or TD. They were much more cutter for the money when looking at miller. I went with the hypertherm after trying both. Amazing machine and am very happy.

 

[swines]

Have you looked at Hypertherm, they invented the plasma cutting technology and thats all they make and there priced about the same. I have a Hypertherm 30 and it cuts 1/4 plate steel great, 3/8 okay 1/2" max, and it is about the size of a battery boosth box.

No - Esab (then Linde) invented plasma cutting technology in 1955. Hypertherm was started in 1968 and marketed their first plasma cutter in 1969. They (Linde) also invented the TIG (HeliArc) process. If you want a genuine HeliArc - you buy an Esab HeliArc.

 

[jimcolt]

It was Union Carbide that held the first patent on the plasma cutting process.....

Jim Colt Hypertherm

 

[Spudland_Dave]

No - Esab (then Linde) invented plasma cutting technology in 1955. Hypertherm was started in 1968 and marketed their first plasma cutter in 1969. They (Linde) also invented the TIG (HeliArc) process. If you want a genuine HeliArc - you buy an Esab HeliArc.

What does it matter who invented it? Kubota or Deere didnt invent tractors yet the overwhelming majority of people consider those 2 brands to be top shelf.

 

[yomax4]

I see from page 7 that the Mud Slinging has started. I know TD uses Sanrex Inverters from Japan as does Miller and Others. Does Hypertherm Make their own Inverters? How many of the the Hypertherm componets are built on site and how many are sourced elsewhere? No-one in a True Manufacturer anymore. I saw one post that said a TD guy quit and went to a competitive company. If you quit and went to a competitor will you still push Hypertherm. All I can say that when you buy a Plasma Cutter, Get the Largest and Newest you can afford. If it turns out to be a Miller, Hypertherm or ESAB, You can always get a little more Snort out of it by Retro Fitting it with a TD 1 Torch. It's all the craze these days.:thumbsup:

 

[jimcolt]

No mud slinging from me. Sanrex makes a nice product. I was just stating that T-D made their US workforce smaller by importing plasma power supplies from other countries.

And, all of the Hypertherm plasma systems today (Inverter and chopper power supplies) are produced in Hanover NH USA. Our boards, torches, and all components are built in the U.S. There are (of course) components on circuit boards that are built all over the world....some simply are not available from U.S. companies. Be glad to give you a tour of our facilities in NH! Where you can see every product being built.

You are correct on choosing a plasma....buy up as far as power goes, you won't regret it. Worse thing you could do to a Hypertherm is put a 10 year old 1 torch on it! That is a great torch for many systems, but doesn't match Hypertherm's torch technology in terms of cut performance and consumable life. Hypertherm chooses to not make a "one size fits all" torch, rather the torches are designed for the power levels and power supplies they will be used with.

Jim

 

[yomax4]

Couple of Interesting things. Miller Seems Ok to use a 10 Year Old Hypertherm ICE Torch on their Plasmas and I sure do see a lot of 650 - 1250 Hypertherms sporting TD 1 Torches in the Midwest. Unsure why but the Distributors like to do the 1 Torch Retro Fits.

 

[jimcolt]

The distributors that do the retrofits to the 1 torch are T-D distributors. They then can sell consumables to the system with the 1 torch installed. Often the torch is offered at a low price, the distributor makes money in the long run selling consumables. Can't blame the customer for buying a bargain torch, however they pay more for it over time!

Hypertherm produces torches for Miller.....they are not the same torches found on the Hypertherm units.

Jim

 

[lostcause]

hey jim, kind of an aside from the main purpose of the thread, but does hypertherm have any drawing files of the handheld and machine torches for the 45 unit that can be disclosed? i'm still laying out all the details of my cnc table, and i like to be complete with the drawings so i can see how everything looks when complete. getting the pieces in there with the exact scale lets me see any issues i might have ahead of time. dxf would be ideal, but i'm not fussy. i'll take anything i can get

 

[jimcolt]

The only drawings are in the Powermax45 manual (can be downloaded from Hypertherm | Plasma Cutters | Plasma Cutting Equipment | Metal Cutting Equipment, use the tab called downloads library) they are simple lin drawings. The drawing for the machine torch shows dimensions for mounting, the drawing for the hand torch is simply an exploded view for repairs or service. Usually these drawings are adequate to prepare for installing the torch.

Jim