What is the best plasma cutter

[jpmassey]

I'm considering purchasing a new plasma cutter, I have a miller spectrum 500 and it doesn't seem to like my electronics much. Also, the nozzles produce a kerf of about .125, which doesn't allow for good detail work.

I'm looking at the major manufacturers (hypertherm, thermal dynamics, miller...). My main concern is kerf width on small stuff (<3/16). (I've been looking at the hypertherm fine cut consumables, but haven't found an actual kerf width number.) I also want to be able to cut the occasional 1/2" plate as well. Right now I'm leaning towards the hypertherm 1250 w/ machine torch.

Any advice?

[Torchhead]

Fine cut kerf width on 16ga is about .035. Slightly bigger on 14Ga. I cut 10Ga and up to 1/4" with a 40A tip and it has about .043. My 60A tip gives about .056 on 10g and .065 on 1/4"

What height and tip volts are you using on the 500? I used to get smaller than
.125 kerf width with new tips. I found a source of really cheap tips and I changed them every 25 to 50 pierces. I had to use good grounding techniques but my 500 ran with a PC and THC electronics about 6 ft away.

The 500 is truely a wretched machine for CNC cutting but I cut miles of decorative steel with mine. Once I got a Hypertherm1000 I could not believe how much better and faster it cut! I think working and making the 500 work made me a much better plasma "Dude" than if I had just started out with the best first.

[Mongkol]

Hi Torchhead,
I have some question to ask you.
1) I am little puzzled with GA unit as you refer. What does it mean?
2) It's possible or not.Could you please advise me for sources which sell tips to release kerf width smaller than? please advise.
3) THC system? It's necessory to use with plasma cnc or not ? I found some machines that did not have this system.


Cheers,
Mongkol

[Robin Hewitt]

Originally Posted by Mongkol I am little puzzled with GA unit as you refer. What does it mean?

I've never quite figured out why sheet metal thickness should be measured in standard wire gauge and then called gauge instead of SWG. It is a peculiar standard like those whacky letter and number drills. Guess it's a history thing

6 swg 0.192"
10 swg 0.128"
12 swg 0.092"
16 swg 0.064
18 swg 0.048"
20 swg 0.036"
22 swg 0.028"
24 swg 0.022"

[PlasmaGuy]

I recommend Hypertherm. I own a 1650 G3 and have runs it hard for 4 plus years. Hypertherm produces only plasma equipment. Period. Their customer support is top-shelf too, not that it is required very often.

Good luck,

Tom

[jpmassey]

Originally Posted by Torchhead Fine cut kerf width on 16ga is about .035. Slightly bigger on 14Ga. I cut 10Ga and up to 1/4" with a 40A tip and it has about .043. My 60A tip gives about .056 on 10g and .065 on 1/4" What height and tip volts are you using on the 500? I used to get smaller than .125 kerf width with new tips. I found a source of really cheap tips and I changed them every 25 to 50 pierces. I had to use good grounding techniques but my 500 ran with a PC and THC electronics about 6 ft away. The 500 is truely a wretched machine for CNC cutting but I cut miles of decorative steel with mine. Once I got a Hypertherm1000 I could not believe how much better and faster it cut! I think working and making the 500 work made me a much better plasma "Dude" than if I had just started out with the best first.

I've tried heights of .05 to .2 with not alot of difference. I can't measure the volts since the electronics dies when the torch fires.

[bearracecars]

hi tom
whats your "source for cheap tips?
thanks
bear

[jpmassey]

Also, can anyone recommend a good place to buy hypertherm units? The local places are pretty high, and I'd have to pay tax as well.

[PlasmaGuy]

Gentlemen,

This is a company that I buy my consumables from to keep my local vendor honest.
http://hypermax.3dcartstores.com/index.html

They have "free freight" on complete machines too, plus you save sales tax if purchased outside you state.

Luck,

Tom

[DSL PWR]

Originally Posted by jpmassey Also, can anyone recommend a good place to buy hypertherm units? The local places are pretty high, and I'd have to pay tax as well.

You get what you pay for...

Also check the price on Miller, Lincoln, and Esab. I found the price on the Hypertherm to be less than the others when I bought mine.

[Bobbyr70]

Lean like you are headed, Hypertherm is a very good unit I purchased mine from an ebayer I got a much better deal than locally and it shipped in 3 days for free. Call 1-866-360-WELD Tell them Bob From Oregon Refered you.

[xjdubber]

thermacut sels great consumables