Plasma cutter

darragh_haven

Does anyone have a plasma cutter. How do they work. It looks like there are 2 different types, ones that would cut up to 12mm and ones that cut up to 20mm. Do you need gas for them. Is there good and bad makes.
Any info gratefully accepted

SuperTortoise

darragh_haven wrote: »

Does anyone have a plasma cutter. How do they work. It looks like there are 2 different types, ones that would cut up to 12mm and ones that cut up to 20mm. Do you need gas for them. Is there good and bad makes.
Any info gratefully accepted

No, no gas, just compressed air.

The arc initiates melting the metal and the compressed air blows the molten metal away creating a cut.
Lovely bit of stuff but expensive, you also need to make sure your air compressor has enough pressure for it to be effective, volume is sort of secondary, obviously the bigger the tank on the compressor means more cutting time, they will show you the required specs of the compressor on the data sheet for the plasma cutter.

Hypertherm are the rolls royce of cutters, i've no idea what the cheaper models are like or if they are any good, there's bound to be some decent brands out there, i was looking at a few machines from r-tech over in the uk recently, you'd be looking at close to 1k landed at your door so you'd need plenty of work for them at that kind of money.

the_pen_turner

great machine. I wish I had one.
so handy . cuts in really awkward places . cuts curves for sport.

its just like an arc welder but with air blowing the metal away.
sorta like when you have the amps too high on light metal and it burns a hole instantly

oneten

if you decide to buy just be aware of the voltage requirements . because if you have a bit of voltage drop, a machine like the r-tech p50hf won't work . and farmyard wiring can be a bit suspect , a quare handy yolk if you can stretch for one, hypertherm 40 good machine, they come up on ebay from time to time but sure you know yourself with ebay ,can be lucky can be unlucky

enricoh

Bit the bullet and bought one last month, bought off eBay uk from a crowd called plasmapart.
390stg minus the vat, 1 yr warranty
Cut 6 n 8mm sheets with it no bother. Tried 12mm plate and it cut it , just. But I never used a plasma before could be my iffy technique!

200l compressor and blue 16amp plug and away you go. I used mine with extension lead as well. Very handy yoke, beats using the grinder!

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/40Amp-New-14mm-Cut-HF-Start-Plasma-Cutter-Everything-Included-New-Range-PP44/271739676803?epid=1788695472&hash=item3f44f26883:g:S3kAAOSw8d9UtNzX

darragh_haven

Thanks for all the responses. I had a quick look at the Hypertherm on-line, but it's probably a rich for this farmers blood. The 12mm to 14mm cutting, unbranded machine might be worth a punt at €450. The 20mm machine of any make seems to be €850 for any brand of machine

SuperTortoise

What was the best price you found on the Hypertherm 30 or 40A??

I use a no name brand 30A from time to time and it does fine, i'd imagine a 30A machine would do all the cutting a farmer would need really, i think there is a fair jump in price between the 30A and 40A.
If you do get one tell me what brand you get and if it's any good, i'm on the lookout but my budget is limited.

mad-for-tar

Have an old ESAB LPH120 here, bought about 12 or 13 years ago or more. 120A on max setting and can cut up to 35mm thick. Its a brute of a thing but 2 things it does not like are a damp air supply and any kind of corrosion on the metal. Same would apply for any plasma in general, air source used needs to be squeaky dry, no moisture whatsoever in it as it can cause internal arcing in the tip and burn out the nozzles prematurely. Metal needs to be clean also and in the case of ours, to let go of the torch switch as soon as you hit the end of the metal as have suffered some contactor failures due to rapid switching of the arc.

Once you get the hang of using it, its definitely the way to go if you have alot of cuts to make, far quicker and cleaner than the gas axe or the grinder.

the_pen_turner

what effect has the rust on it

maidhc

I have an R tech p30, 30A. It is only OK. The problem with farming in general is you need pretty heavy duty kit when you need it, and I really regret not getting a more powerful one. It was great last year when I was fixing up a Q cab, but not so great when I was cutting out old cubicles; the grinder was quicker.

darragh_haven

SuperTortoise wrote: »

What was the best price you found on the Hypertherm 30 or 40A??

I use a no name brand 30A from time to time and it does fine, i'd imagine a 30A machine would do all the cutting a farmer would need really, i think there is a fair jump in price between the 30A and 40A.
If you do get one tell me what brand you get and if it's any good, i'm on the lookout but my budget is limited.

The hypertherm 30A , the best I could source on a quick sea rich was €1650 all in. Its really an engineering companys machine

mad-for-tar

the_pen_turner wrote: »

what effect has the rust on it

In my experience, causes the arc to make and break and you get a spattering effect on it rather than a clean cut, a bit like trying to weld dirty metal with a MIG welder. That said, it would have to be very rusty for it to happen. Some small amounts of surface rust it should manage with it OK but not old material weathered for ages or covered in old paint etc.

Captain Boody Man

Try rapid welding uk. Hypertherm all the way.