Who want to chat about plasma cutters?

[TMGT]

Not in the shop to look and it's too dam hot to go outside but the one I have I bought 10 years ago and it was over 6 grand. Like wit most things, you get what you pay for and that includes plasma cutters.

Agreed, all my current plasmas are Hypertherm after having some other cheaper brands in the past. Currently have a Powermax 45, 85 and 105 (the 105 is for sale) at home, at work I have a PM45, 105 and a MaxPro200.

I was curious what you had since non of the Hypertherm models I'm familiar with have a way to sense material thickness.

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[grsthegreat]

My hypertherm does not calculate thicknessnes. I have to set material thickness into the software manually. I have a chart telling me settings needed fir various thicknesses. My table has auto touch height controller after it starts, which sure is nice.

 

[sd455dan]

Guys, I don't think it's different electrode, it's just the hole size in the nozzle tip was I was referring to.

Like look here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LGRGL44/?coliid=I2F2TMCPEA2LMD&colid=TJYU61LC7LU&psc=1

See, they recommend 0.030" for 110v, 0.045" for 220v.



Then I also found this guy: All about plasma cutting

Relevant part:

This is what I have found to work with most plasma cutter nozzles/tips that most people have in their shops or garages. NOTE: Orifice hole size 1mm = .03937"

20 amp tip - 0.6mm/.025" - 15 to 20 amps - 50 to 55 psi

30 amp tip - 0.8mm/.030" - 21 to 30 amps - 55 to 60 psi

40 amp tip - 0.9mm/.035" - 31 to 40 amps - 65 to 70 psi

50 amp tip - 1.0mm/.040" - 41 to 50 amps - 65 to 75 psi

60 amp tip - 1.1mm/.044" - 51 to 60 amps - 65 to 75 psi

70 amp tip - 1.2mm/.047" - 61 to 70 amps - 75 to 80 psi

80 amp tip - 1.3mm/.051" - 71 to 80 amps - 75 to 80 psi

Very Interesting , First I have seen of the SG 55/AG 60 Nozzle difference in size, I knew it was common with other models and torches.
I will measure with a drill bit and caliper what I have right now.
This gets more complicated on the LOTOS LTPDC2000d since they have changed the torch somewhat since my unit was sold.

Thanks, Learn something new everyday.

 

[TMGT]

My hypertherm does not calculate thicknessnes. I have to set material thickness into the software manually. I have a chart telling me settings needed fir various thicknesses. My table has auto touch height controller after it starts, which sure is nice.

I have the serial data port on my cmc plasma setup at home so the program sets the amperage on the plasma automatically, still have to change consumables of course.

The MaxPro at work does not have that ability and you have to change the amp manually, more then once I've changed the torch side (it's a quick change assembly) and forgotten to change the plasma source. 50amp through 130amp nozzle not too bad. 130amp thought a 50amp nozzle NOT good!

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[ParkWhite]

I bought the cheapest one I could find.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018XFZUA8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Even this cheap one works good and it saves a lot of oxy-acetylene which is getting expensive around here.

 

[GeneV]

I bought the cheapest one I could find.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018XFZUA8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Even this cheap one works good and it saves a lot of oxy-acetylene which is getting expensive around here.

I've seen mention of this model before, the Superdeal Cut50 made a few lists as the best cheap plasma cutter.

 

[Kschwennsen]

I have a Hypertherm 45XP on my 4'x8' waterbed table. The plasma is very dependable and compact but the table is always giving me issues (Bulltear) I've cut 3/8" plate with it and it can cut 11ga at 100ipm. clean cuts and consumables last but I have a few filters to keep lines dry.

 

[GeneV]

Well I ordered the Bestarc on Amazon. Less than $200 right now! Dunno if it's a Prime Days thing or what, but that price is crazy. Will report back when I get it and have a chance to play around with it. I also ordered a consumables kit with the 0.030" nozzle tip holes...so we'll see how this guy does with this setup on 110v.

 

[2manyrocks]

That's a Prime Days special for Prime members.

 

[chim]

I have a Hypertherm Powermax 30 AIR that handles my needs well. Depends on what I'm doing the tool of choice may be the plasma, a cut blade in the 4-1/2" angle grinder, sawzall or portable band saw.

The ability to plug into 120 or 240V and the self-contained compressor make the Hypertherm pretty handy.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Ordered the LOTOS LTP5000D plasma machine today with Prime Day pricing. I like the pilot arc starting .. which should help my learning curve. IMHO consumables are reasonably priced.

It will have its own dedicated 220 VAC outlet in shop but .. I think the ability to operate on 120 VAC will be handy for portability so .. ordered the adapter cord.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0052OX876/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I'd be interested to hear from owners of this plasma cutter.

 

[Smokeydog]

Took a vocational welding course some time ago to improve my welding and fabrication skills. They had an early plasma cutter given to them by TVA. It was slightly smaller than a VW bug. Instructor said it cut good but the electros cost $400 to cut about 50’ of 1/2” plate steel or aluminum. They have come a long way since then.
Early cutters had solid hafnium electros. Expensive, controlled, monitored and about the only element that can be that close to plasma. New machines encase or extruded the finest thread of hafnium in oxygen free copper to bring down cost to make durable consumables. Plasma temperatures are nuclear hot like the sun. Cuts anything electrically conductive.

Oxy/Act can barely get above the melting point of steel. It cuts steel chemically by introducing oxygen to hot steel causing immediate oxidation (black rust) releasing large amount of heat energy. Iron is rare that it’s oxide melts lower than the metal. Can’t cut aluminum even with lower metal melting point.

Oxy/Propane cuts steel fine and great for rosebud heating. Scrapyard I frequent uses liquid oxygen/ propane torches. A neutral flame not hot enough to weld steel. Exception is forge welding which relies on both heat and kinetic energy to get the molecules moving fast enough to shake hands.

 

[GeneV]

Alright guys, so I got me this Besarc plasma cutter, complete with good and bad news.

First the bad: it ain't acting right...this thing sputters and also cuts out at times. Full disclosure, I have not run it on 240v yet. But on 120v, I tried all sorts of amp/psi combos (both recommended and otherwise). I got 2 additional water/air separators installed, as well as the one already mounted on the machine, so it's definitely not a moisture issue. I tried it with the consumables that came with the machine, as well as with additional set I bought (0.030 nozzle hole for 120v), same story.

The good news though is that Amazon didn't even fuss too much about it when I contacted them, just issued me a full refund and let me keep the machine. So now I got me a free plasma cutter that I need to tinker with to get it right.

 

[mike0000]

Alright guys, so I got me this Besarc plasma cutter, complete with good and bad news.

First the bad: it ain't acting right...this thing sputters and also cuts out at times. Full disclosure, I have not run it on 240v yet. But on 120v, I tried all sorts of amp/psi combos (both recommended and otherwise). I got 2 additional water/air separators installed, as well as the one already mounted on the machine, so it's definitely not a moisture issue. I tried it with the consumables that came with the machine, as well as with additional set I bought (0.030 nozzle hole for 120v), same story.

The good news though is that Amazon didn't even fuss too much about it when I contacted them, just issued me a full refund and let me keep the machine. So now I got me a free plasma cutter that I need to tinker with to get it right.

Getting tired of all the dust/mess from cutoff wheels and my metal chop saw is getting tired. I started researching Plasma cutters. I was narrowing it down to the Bestarc, a search on this forum lead me here. Gene did you figure out the issue with yours?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Kschwennsen]

possibly a ground issue. Are your parts clean?

 

[GeneV]

Getting tired of all the dust/mess from cutoff wheels and my metal chop saw is getting tired. I started researching Plasma cutters. I was narrowing it down to the Bestarc, a search on this forum lead me here. Gene did you figure out the issue with yours?

Thanks,
Mike

Hey Mike yup I sure did, I figured out that it just doesn't like 120v. It will cut, but it won't be a clean cut and the experience is frustrating, no matter what settings or nozzle hole sizes used. But on 220v, it does great.

This guy here, he's got lots of info on plasma cutters, especially the cheaper ones. Here's a relevant vid:

 

[mike0000]

Hey Mike yup I sure did, I figured out that it just doesn't like 120v. It will cut, but it won't be a clean cut and the experience is frustrating, no matter what settings or nozzle hole sizes used. But on 220v, it does great.

This guy here, he's got lots of info on plasma cutters, especially the cheaper ones. Here's a relevant vid:

Thanks Gene! I have 220v.
I‘ve watched some of his videos, he’s entertaining!

Mike

 

[GeneV]

BTW Mike and others, if you got a CUT50 type plasma cutter with pilot arc like this Bestarc, make sure when you order the consumables it's labeled AG-60P. The regular AG-60 has a different ceramic cup, and the stand-off bracket fitting them puts the nozzle tip to far away from the cutting surface.

 

[Smokeydog]

911 Motorsports makes a handy tub table and stencils for accurate hand cuts. Dry captures about 75% of smoke and all the dross. Wet almost 100%.

 

[mike0000]

I’m currently comparing the Bestarc CUT50 and the Lotos LTP5000D, Lotos is a little more expensive but dosen’t come with the 120 power cord, (not really a big issue unless I needed it out of my shop, but still a consideration).
Anyone think one is better than the other?

Thanks,
Mike