Are Hypertherm really worth the money?

[Welderpaul]

I don't think there is anything that beats a Hypertherm. Make sure you factor in using genuine consumables. Pricey, but the copy consumables don't last half the time.
Oh, and use a good compressed air dryer/s - wet air kills the tips.

 

[armalites]

I have a Powermax30 and that is very good. I bought mine secondhand.The rep that demos them at our local Agri Spares place is really skilled with them, I've watched him cutting 20mm with a Powermax30.

The guys at the store say the 45 more is more than twice the machine a 30 is but doesn't even cost twice a much. They have a customer who switched from a Oxy/Accet template cutting rig to a Powermax45 and they saved enough on gas to cover the new machine in less than a year.

The other thing to remember with Hypertherm is they have a pilot arc so they should not be triggered unless they are in use ie don't fire them to check the air is flowing. The beauty of that pilot is as long as the earth is good you can cut through painted materials as the pilot arc will burn a clean spot.

Mine doesn't get a lot of use but when it does the time it saves is amazing, I've made a couple of incinerator bins from clean empty oil drums, takes literally 5-10mins to cut the top out and cut air vents all around it.

I find if you don't need clean ie cutting scrap you can get away with worn tips, you do really notice it when you put a new one in though, the cut line is almost paper thin.

 

[Robotstar5]

For commercial/industrial use go with Hypertherm, we had the Powermax45 too.

 

[Pete_88]

Wow, wasn't expecting that many replies!! Thanks very much everyone. Looks like they really are worth the money so I'll hopefully get one ordered in the next week or so.

 

[T0rnado69]

dunno if you have read this thread

ned picked up a right bargain powermax 45.

 

[Samson27]

My old boy bought a Powermax30 around 5 or 6 years ago from a farm show, it cut a digger bucket in half in about 5 mins so he had to buy it.

It has been one of the best purchases he has ever made for the farm, it has been brilliant never missed a beat I would highly recommend Hypertherm, some things are more expensive for a reason.

Also 90% of the CNC Plasma tables are running Hypertherm

 

[Kent]

It will be in a small fab shop, so will be in daily use, mainly mild steel say 3-12mm but occasionally thicker. Just really starting out on my own so cost is a factor but I don't mind spending if they really are as good as the reviews say.

Do you really need a plasma? Not saying they are not top notch but will it pay for itself over other things?
If it will go for it, depends what you make though
I don't have one and come from a time before plasma. Will likely get one but only when that certain job comes in
I can hire one you see

 

[Brad93]

Having an R-Tech that people seemed to say were good units, (mine is the 100A 3 phase model) then using a 60Amp hypertherm at work, the difference was night and day. The machine, the consumables, the cut, everything was better.

 

[Pete_88]

Right, I'm going to order a powermax 45 tomorrow. On a side note, Paul mentioned dry air so that got me thinking what do you guys do to minimise moisture in your compressed air? I'm currently running a fairly cheap 3hp 150l compressor with a water trap on the outlet.

 

[Tom Orrow L]

Air filter on the air supply hose, should be fine

 

[tinman123]

the hypertherm are a good plasma no doubt and it was what i had intended on buying whenever i did go for one.
but after chatting to a few lads who had used the hypertherm and the new at the time tec-arc plasma i ended up changing my mind tbh.

i bought the tec-arc opticut 65 for around the same money which meant that i could cut thicker stuff, it will nip off 30mm clean and sever cut 40mm.
ive had it up against a hypertherm 85 and they were about similar but even at that id dtill say the tec-arc would nearly beat it.

its probably too big for what you want but its an option sure.
ive had this one for 3 or 4 yrs now and it never missed a bat.
its not as small as the hypertherm 45 mind but i dont need to move it about much anyways.

 

[blenkie1]

Got to agree with tinman, I have the tec arc 65 at home and never been a problem. Where I work they use a hypertherm 45 and yes it's good but the tec arc will cut thicker stuff and it's a lot cheaper.

 

[henry Kadzielski]

Good morning gentelmen.
Regarding Hypertherm I have a PM125, when I started looking the biggest was the Pm105. In the past there was no substitute for horespower and this still true for any machine. I have had HF start transformer machines up to 150amps and the PM125 makes the 150 look stupid. The cut is much straighter and the PM125 will cut thicker material than the HF start150, not to mention the power usage. I got the PM125 for my plasma table and also to do site demolition, which it has done very well. One point to note is the life of the consumables which is also much longer than the older HF 150. You would hope that the consumable life is longer as the cost is also much greater.
I have to honestly say this has been a good investment so far, if it continues to go as it is then it will be a great investment.

 

[thinfourth]

Do you really need a plasma? Not saying they are not top notch but will it pay for itself over other things?
If it will go for it, depends what you make though
I don't have one and come from a time before plasma. Will likely get one but only when that certain job comes in
I can hire one you see

I find the powermax 30 indispensable

I want a plate this size i put a sheet on the cutting bench and within minutes i have the plate

I want a plate to patch the landcover chassis (again) cut out the template from cardboard and transfer it to the plate minutes later i have the correct shaped plate

Brother-in-law wanted some keys for lifting a manhole cover. Asked him to draw it real size on a piece of paper. Spray mount the paper onto a piece of 5 mm plate and minutes later i have the exact thing he wanted

I cut flat plate with it, pipes with it, bars,

If it died i'd buy a 45 the same day

So i would say a decent plasma should be a top choice as once you get some steel sheets in it changes how you work

 

[Kent]

You see I was hinting towards the fact that there are other ways
Thin sheet can be bought in ready cut via conventional guillotine
5 mm plates and over can be cut with gas torches

Couple of grand invested needs to replace a lot of cutting you couldn't do previously by other means ( even if slower) and cannot order in ready cut

Could I replace bought in laser cutting? No
Can already do most plasma tasks a different way? Yeah there was no plasma when I started out
The big thing I do see is how you can cut sub 5 mm quickly. Curves and all to boot stainless or ali

Pipe, bar etc can all be done with gas which becomes an essential item in the shop if you need to pre- heat. Flame bend or straighten or just plain work hot steel- plasma can only cut

 

[blenkie1]

Yeah you could do all that with out a plasma and just use bottles but I would think nearly all Fab shops have plasmas now. All we use bottles for are heating up.

 

[henry Kadzielski]

Good morning Kent.
I purchased my PM125 primarily for cnc, I went around the traps for about two years, got treated as a mug, finally got '****** off' enough and built my own, table that is. There are many reasons that someone would need a plasma and every ones reasons are different. If you can have a work around and not get one good for you, however if you feel that one would be suitable and usefull, then you get one. Whether it's a hypertherm or another brand is totally up to the individual and their requirements. Since my purchase and totally by accident got asked if I can do demilition, and carefully said yes. This has resulted in a new opening and exposure for me, which is wonderfull. I purchase the hypertherm as it was one of the machines that the CNC company had integrated into their software and operation. It was also the machine that they had the most 'colaberation' with. The problem that everyone has when purchasing new equipment is whether it will be any good, perform as the manufacturer states and for most of us we only find this out after the purchase has been made.

 

[Kent]

Yeah you could do all that with out a plasma and just use bottles but I would think nearly all Fab shops have plasmas now. All we use bottles for are heating up.

I wouldn't like to say but the nearest one to me of any size doesn't but other than the oddyoung lad they can all burn well. In fact he complained to me recently that so few so called skilled lads can't stick weld and can't burn ( though all claim they can)

I will very likely aquire a good one as and when I have a good job on were it can pay for itself or incase I slip up and get towards paying corporation tax

 

[Kent]

It might be pertinent to mention that I must have about half a dozen lazercutters within 45 mins drive of me
If this wasn't the case there would be a far bigger chance of me having one today

Came very close to lashing out on one when I rebuilt the barge a year or two back. But I was paid by the hour not by the job on that

Question
On single phase ( which is all I have access to here) and talking hypotherm. Is there anything lost in terms of portability or low end performance if I buy the biggest for the supply?

 

[henry Kadzielski]

Good morning Kent
No, in short. Even the PM 125 can be moved around by one person, weighs about 45kg, all else is much lighter. I cannot remember the largest in single phase, however they all cut larger / thicker than the book specs. From the 'plasme spider forum' PM 45 users have cut up to and including 3/4" thick plate, even though it is not stated or reccomended. So it depends upon what you can utilise under your present circumstances.