Powermax 85 1st Impressions

[magma-joe]

Having had my Powermax 85 for a couple of weeks now I can give a little feedback. My last machine was a 1250. I used it for 5 + years without any issues, which sold me on Hypertherm quality. Here are some of the 1st things I noticed with the Powermax 85;

1. The 85 cut quality is defintely better than the 1250.

2. The 85 machine torch barrel is now a (phenolic type?) material rather than metal like the 1250. It is easier to slide the torch clamps on with the new style barrel. The best part is is the ease in removing the gear rack. By unscrewing the torch barrel the gear rack slides out of a T slot.

3. Consummable costs are about the same as the 1250 however the 85 consummables seem to last alot longer.

4. The quality of the ground clamp is a big improvement over the 1250's.

5. The 85 cut charts in the manual are much more detailed including such things as kerf widths. The 85 manual now includes charts for Fine Cut consummables which the 1250 excluded. For some reason though, Hypertherm still has NO Fine Cut charts for Aluminum?

All consummable cut speeds are faster than the 1250 due to the extra 5 amp nozzle size increase, 40 to 45, 60 to 65 and 80 to 85 amps.

The PM 85's Shielded style conical flow nozzles have been redesigned and look completely different than the 1250's. Fine Cut nozzles on the other hand look the same.

6. The torch has a release button where it connects to the machine which makes swapping torches very easy. Nice improvement over the 1250.

7. The 85 is smaller in size and weight over the 1250 making it easier to move around.

8. Air pressure can be set manually or the machine can control it automaticly. The display screen makes setting amperage or air pressure much more precise.

Most of all I have been very happy with the cut quality of the PM 85 over the 1250. In my opinion cut quality is more important than speed. With the 85 I have seen improvements in both.

Magma-joe

[jimcolt]

Joe,

Glad you like the 85. When Hypertherm develops new products...it takes close to 2 years from the original concept until product release. During this time we design develop, test and retest every process and every component for reliability, and performance. We will not release a new product that replaces an existing product in our line...unless it is better in every possible way. Cut speed, cut quality, consumable life, ease of use, reliability...are the major goal areas that we strive to improve in.

I just put a new 85 on my home CNC machine....replacing the Powermax45. I added a new magnetic torch breakaway (Snap N Cut) that a company called Possum Plasma Cutting (Australia) has designed that is very nice for protecting the torch..here are a pics of it in action.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[magma-joe]

Jim,

I will be watching for some pics of your Powermax 85 cutting. The Snap n Cut looks like a nice addition for your Plasma Cam machine.

Your support of Hypertherm products here on the CNC Zone and many other forums on the net was another deciding factor in my purchase of the Powermax 85. You might remember me, I spoke to you about this very same subject at the last Fabtech show. Keep up the good work.
Thanks,

Magma-joe

[rpage]

Magma-Joe...

Just replaced my 1250 with an 85. Today was my first full day cutting Wow, the quality of the cuts are amazing. I was cutting 1/4" and 5/16". The 5/16" was two full 5x10' sheets. 183 pierce points and 3000 inches of cut per sheet. Still on the same tip! Nice! Cut at 65A and got very nice cuts. I also have the Snap'N Cut and have to say, next to the torch it is the best thing I have spent money on yet. Holds the torch head at 90 degrees always. I had a collison and popped the magnetic mount off. Snapped it right back on and was at 90 degrees without doing a thing! nice!

Also, with help from Jim Colt, I have my Powermax 85 hooked to my Samson table with NO internal splicing! Mated the Samson cable to the CPC port cable on the Powermax. Changed one switch setting inside the Powermax, super simple to do, and I was done. Nice safe connection with no major machine mods. Thanks Hypertherm! And Jim Colt of course

you can checkout my blog, steelandcopper.blogspot.com to see Mick's table grate upgrade as well! Very nice! And I have to tell you the steel slides much easier on this grate then it did on the original.

Ok, nuff chatter from me!

Rick

[magma-joe]

rpage,

For the last 2 days I have been cutting my usual .090 aluminum parts with fine cut consummables. The cut quality is excellent with zero dross and the consummables are clearly lasting MUCH longer than the 1250. Very happy with the 85! I am cutting @ 150IPM w/ 87 arc volts.

As explained to me by the Hypertherm rep at the Fabtech show, Hypertherm stays ahead of their competitors by always improving their technology. They are also an employee owned company. I would say Hypertherm hit a home run with the Powermax 85.

Magma-joe

[dpac]

Arrgh your killing me! I can't wait until I get mine.. Finally finished my table too.

They sound like a superior product, when I first used my thermal dynamics 52 I thought it was amazing. These seem like a step above the rest.

[asuratman]

Hello,
Can you show me website of Snap N Cut company Possum Plasma to see the product. Or how to contact Mick. Thanks.

[jimcolt]

I don't believe there is a website for Possum Plasma for his magnetic torch breakaway....you can contact him (Mick Williams) at benderart@bigpond.com

Jim

[rpage]

I don't believe there is a website for Possum Plasma for his magnetic torch breakaway....you can contact him (Mick Williams) at benderart@bigpond.com

Jim

wow are you fast Jim

[Benderart]

Hello,
Can you show me website of Snap N Cut company Possum Plasma to see the product. Or how to contact Mick. Thanks.

I'm still in the process of getting a website up and running however, I'd be happy for you to contact me direct...

benderart@bigpond.com

or

possumplasma@bigpond.com

The mounts are also on ebay....item #220754675218
Of course, that number keeps changing from time to time.

Thanks Jim and Rick also....

Cheers.
Mick.
Possum Plasma Cutting