What can you expect from a plasma cutter?

[billbill1]

The welders where I work have a red (Lincoln??) unit and it cuts almost clean enough that no grinding is required. I've seen misused units that the cut looked terrible. If the plasma cutter is used by a select few and a jig is used I think you would be amazed at the job of cutting they do.

 

[Tevi]

I've got a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 50.I've upgraded to a 50 ft lead and a 1Torch.I highly recomend the !Toech it saves on tips and cuts alot cleaner.It's defenitely worth getting a good brand and a 230v.I also reccomend the 70 degree tip

 

[MMM]

I use a 480v Unitor torch at work and it has wire guide that attaches to tip and is handy for keeping correct distance from work. I doubt plywood will last very long except on thin stock. We use flat bar as a guide for straight cuts. Speed and air press are a major factor in producing a clean cut.

 

[BGL990]

I've got the Lincoln Pro-Cut 25 and really like it. A plasma cutter is WAY more convenient than an oxy-acet. torch and generally makes nicer cuts (although a torch can make incredibly clean cuts with little slag as well if used properly).

The output current capability of the plasma cutter is what determines the thickness of material it can cut. Mine is 25 amps and is rated for 1/4" clean cut and 3/8" "severence", meaning it will go through but not as nicely. I have managed to hack apart slightly thicker stuff than that, but it isn't pretty and is slower than a torch would be. The next step up in the Lincoln Pro-Cut series is 50 or 60 amps I think and is rated for 7/8". I often do wish I had gotten that model but it was double the price (~ $3000 CAD at the time). I was stretching it to spend the $1700 that I did on this model, so couldn't go for the bigger unit.

As long as you don't often need more than 1/4" capacity, a 25 or 30 amp unit should be OK. If you need more than that then you will need to step up to something bigger. I don't know if anyone makes a 40ish amp unit, which would be a nice size. The Lincolns seem to have a big gap between the smallest unit and the next size up.

You do need to filter your air supply very well. Water in the air will destroy the consumable tips quickly. I put two water separators/filters in series directly on the back of the plasma cutter.

I don't regret my purchase (other than wanting a bigger unit), but it was expensive, especially considering that I just use it for hobby purposes. If I had to justify the purchase to someone, I wouldn't be able to but I just figure that anything fun is expensive, so what the heck ....
/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Taylortractornut]

my friend William has a welding shop and has a HyperTherm 2000 It cuts 3/4 pretty good and severs 1 Inch. He doesnt use his torches much at all now. I get Luan panels from work and make wooden patterns for him to trace with the cutter to make sheet steel patterns for my magnettic tracer torch.

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Pineridge.......I got my plasma cutter from these guys Plasma cutter a couple years ago...........They beat my local welding shop by about $700 on the model I bought. Good people to deal with & shipping on my hypertherm 600 was only about $30 and came in less than 3 business days................Tom

 

[theonlybull]

ok. i run a mahine shop with my father, and we don't have a plasma. for thin material, and stainless they are nice. but for anything over 3/16" a good hand on the o/a will do just as nice of a job.

i do have access to a hypertherm 50 if i need it ( local plant we work for has one), and i've used it a fair bit for stainless. it works nice on the SS, and i'm sure, if i spent asmuch time behind it as the o/a, i could probably do a better job.

IMHO, for general work, ( repairing tractors as you said), a good, o/a setup, with 4 hole tips, and the correct tip for the job will work just fine.

good luck with your purchase, and if you take good care of it, it will last you a long time.

 

[Soundguy]

At work we have a thermodynamics cutmaster 50... 50 amp.. cuts 1/2" and severs 3/4 like a torch cut.. though does 5/8" almost as good as 1/2". Unit was a tad over 2000. We end up doing alot of metal fabbing for our heavy equipment. It has saved us money over the gas axe and grinder method.. not to mention time. I'm not sure the casual tractor owner needs one for garage use though.

Same reason I only have a small 70 amp stick welder at my house.. because we have a powermig 250 at work, as well as a lincoln ac/dc 225 amp buzzbox, and a hobart 10kw genny/welder combo. if I need anyhting big welded.. I just tote it to work with me.

Soundguy

 

[leaddog]

I bought a T/D cutmaster81 this spring on ebay. $1867 del. It will cut clean 1in. and sever 1 1/4. It has been the handiest tool I have bought next to my welder. You do NEED CLEAN DRY air so by a good filter for your compressor. I cut out my shanks for my toothbar from 1in scrap for my first job and it took a learning curve but once I made my template right it goes good now. I do not have a steady hand so my cuts are not smooth freehand but with a template they are very smooth. I also got a circle cutting attachment and I have cut holes in 1in stock that are as good as cutting with a holesaw in a drill press.
The other thing that works very well is the gouging tips. You can remove weld beads and metal just where you want . I had to remove a bearing off a 1 1/4 shaft and I just cut it off and didn't put a mark on the shaft. Really saves time.
Yes a o/a setup will work but plasma is FAST. On thin stuff you have trouble moving fast enough. ON 1/4in it will cut 80in per min. Try that with o/a.
Consumables are not bad once you learn to operate properly and will be less than the cost of o/a. Just make sure you have a good ground on the part so you get a good ark, Other wise you are trying to cut and its not working and you are burning up tips and electrodes or so a dumb guy I know told me /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I am really glad I bought mine and with I had done it sooner, and I recomend you check out the t/d cuttmaster. The bigger the better
Leaddog

 

[PineRidge]

Leaddog when you say template what materials are you using, wood or steel templates? I would assume that your template is slightly smaller than your finished cut piece, since the torch tip itself would add some width.

Does your torch allow you to make direct contact with the material that you are cutting or does it use some type of stand off? I keep hearing the term "pilot arc" is that how one starts the cutting process?

That machine that you are describing sounds to me like a major player.

Questions, questions, questions sorry but curiosity is a driving force with me.

TC-40D SS web pictures click here