What is so wrong with Miller plasmas?

[Springbox]

Hi All

Been reading this great forum for a while but this is 1st post.

We just love our Dynasty 300 and when we decided to buy a plasma, Miller was the obvious route. As has been mentioned by others before, Miller dealers all seem to want to sell Hypertherm.

We need to cut some reasonably thick stuff and hate underpowered equipment, so have looked at and tried Hypertherm 1250 (good but too expensive), Cutmaster 101 (good but uninspiring with cheap switchgear), Lincoln 100 (cuts well, cheap switchgear and made in Italy ..mmm) and of course the Miller 3080 (now discontinued but seems to cut well and reassuringly built like a Miller in the US).

We think we are going to go for the new 3080 as we can get a fabulous deal but lots of people say buy the Hypertherm instead. Before we commit ourselves, what is so wrong with the Miller plasma machines? We know the argument about all Hypertherm do is make plasma cutters but if there is a problem which would stop someone buying such a plasma it has to be either

quality of cut
reliability
parts availability
consumables cost

Sorry this post is a bit long but this is an expensive & important purchase for us.

Thanks for your thoughts

[jeffscarstrucks]

I can't comment on the specific machines you mentioned but I know that some of the Hypers and Millers are like a GMC and Chevy truck;same plant different labels. The consumables are also just different enough to buy the brand specific parts. I have a 625 Miller and I like it just fine! The main reason I chose Blue is the customer service I have recieved when I needed a hand with a Miller machine(usually some beat up thing I picked up at a sale that someone at a corporate level should not have given the time of day for). Hypertherm might be just as good but I haven't dealt with them to say. Based on the times I have spoken to someone at Miller I would recommend buying the service that comes behind the machine all other things being equall. JEFF

[cruizer]

If miller's design engineers actually took it upon themselves and designed there own plasma cutter, that would be one thing, but it seems (when you open them up) that they looked at a bunch of designs from other manufacturers, and jobbered thier machines together into a redundant nightmare. You have circuits going every which way...

[ShieldArc]

There is 3 better brands of plasma cutters to chose from......

[HAWK]

Miller plasma cutters do use Hypertherm torches. It is my understanding Miller does build their own power sources. I am well pleased with the performance of the Miller cutters I have used. The 2050 is my current machine. I test drove numerous cutters including Hypertherm, ESAB, Thermal Dynamics and some others. The truth is the 2050 out performed them under identical situations. Regardless of their origination I prefer the Miller cutter. However, this is one welder's opinion.

I would contact a Hypertherm rep through your dealer and get a demo. Also see what you can do to demo a Miller also. There is nothing like personal experience to base a decision on.

[jeffscarstrucks]

What I said before.......I've been wrong before. I was lead to believe that some of the machines were made by the same manufacturer but I do stand by my choice based on Miller backing. Didn't mean to mislead...Jeff

[fun4now]

smaller but great

my spec 125c is no where near the 1 you are getting but based on it's performance if i needed a larger 1 i would defenetly get another miller. i love my lil plasma and it has fare out cut my expectations.

[Springbox]

Spectrum 3080 - Help Please Andy

Hi Guys

Thanks for your feedback but we are still unsure if the general unpopularity of the 3080 plasma cutter is because it is not Miller's best offering or is it really a good machine but the marketing boys were asleep.

Is it really a dog's dinner inside like Cruizer says?

We need to make a decision fairly soon before our deal is withdrawn and so come on Andy, take your company hat off for a sec (you talk about it now as it is a discontinued model) and give us your "warts and all" 2 cents.

Thanks.

[fun4now]

andy's not hear

andy is in daytona with no e-net at the moment.

[Portable Welder]

About 12 years ago or maybe a little longer I bought the MAX 42 Hypotherm and thought this is it and I could never cut more than about 50 - 60' if I was lucky and then it was time to change the tip, well it finally took a sht. and was time for me to buy a new one and I had always heard that Miller does'nt make plazmas but a few of my friends had them and said they liked them so I bought a spectrum 2050 and cannot believe the difference, I have cut approx. 100' and I am on the same tip. I have had this one a year and a half and am very pleased with it.

[cruizer]

Miller makes a fantastic product, but myself and many of my tech friends simply don't like the plasma cutter line up. So buy one and sell it when it's warrany expires. I simply refuse to do any after warranty work on them with the exception of the gun which I swap out to a SL-60, or SL-100 Thermal-arc torch, because they are much better that the Hypertherm torch. So I suppose for non-comercial or once in a while cutting, the Miller might be a good way to go providing the price is right. There are much better machines out there for less money and better warrantys. Best to shop around. A Lincoln Procut 55 comes in around the $2200 or less US mark, It'll pierce 7/8's
What more do you need?

[Springbox]

Miller 3080 vs Hypertherm

Hi Guys

Well after much consideration and soul searching, we could not justify the $1000 difference for the Hypertherm and so we bought the Miller 3080 plasma cutter.

Decent machine though the third time we used it the broken trigger fell out of the torch!

Having said that we were probably unlucky and ITW (Miller) had the parts available instantly at no charge so all is not lost.

Cuts well - lets see how it lasts...

Thanks for everyone's input - keep up the great forum.

[ASKANDY]

Good choice

Good choice spring!

The new 3080 is a great piece. Waiting to get one myself.

Cruizer obviously doesn't prefer the Miller and doesn't know that Miller has been a powersource leader in plasma even making power units for other plasma companies. The Miller plasmas are NOT based on anyone elses models. We do prefer the Hypertherm torch on our units but outside of that marriage, the design is all ours. Way back, if you remember, we purchased the company POWCON and liked one of their power circuits that they didn't perfect. We took it and refined it to be a durable system. That's like saying Chevrolet copied ford because they used rubber tires.

Have fun with the 3080 (which is based on an XMT platform)


Andy

[jolane]

Andy,
I just got my Spectrum 625 late last week. I am not sure if it is misbehaving or not, and have forgotten to call Tech Support. Maybe you can answer my question before I call.
When I first plug my air line into the back of the machine, it sounds like the regulator is leaking constantly (whether power is on or not). Once I use it a few times though, the leaking sound disappears. I know that the sound is not coming from the input line or connection, and the power knob has been in different positions when this leaking sound is exhibited. Any ideas? Is this normal, maybe a purge for the system or something? It did this right out of the box, first time, and consistently every time I plug it in to use it.
Thanks,
Joshua

[ASKANDY]

Joshua,
This sounds abnormal. It may be that the drain plunger is sticking. The filter drain can easily be replaced. I had one go bad a few years ago on a Spec 300 and it did the same thing. Call service or just bring it to your service station. We can have parts there in 2 days.

Andy