Air Compressor capacity for Plasma Cutter

[H80N]

My Hypertherm PowerMax-1000 wants to see:

6.7 scfm (189 l/min), minimum flow rate, at a minimum pressure of 90 psig (6.1 bar).

[OscarJr]

6cfm would be the bare minimum IMO. The good news is, you'll only need a ~$500 compressor. This is because most plasma cutters will still cut using around 60psi. So if you get a small 20gallon compressor that pumps up to 150-155psi, when it drops down to about 115psi, the pump will kick on to refill the tank, and you can still cut even if you out-run the tank+running pump because you have a good ~25psi "safe zone" that you can still use. For hobbyist use, it will work just fine.

[ryanjones2150]

6 SCFM really isn't that much. Your plasma cutter has a duty cycle, so it won't do you any good to get a compressor that is over kill. I run my plasma cutter on a small rigid compressor whenever I leave the shop and have no issues. The other day I made four consecutive 18" cuts in 3/16" steel. The only stopping I did was to reposition the piece I was cutting. Now your little pancake compressor probably won't cut it, but you can add an air-keg or just a small compressor, something like a job site machine and you'll be fine. <br />
<br />
I have only a tiny bit of experience with those machines with the built in compressor. I live on the gulf coast and it tends to get rather humid here. A friend of mine bought one of those jobbers there a couple of summers ago and it worked for about two minutes until it started shooting water out of the contact tip. Just too humid here for it to work.

[Olivero]

understand, I just need to know if I go for the plasma cutter too will it involve a $300-$500 compressor to really let her rip.

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Yes, most likely it will. If you want a quality one, both of mine a Dewalts.

[H80N]

OR..... maybe the latest gen of self contained... internal compressor plasma cutter units

I thought that the Powermax 30 AIR worth looking at because Jim Colt believes they have conquered the reliability/durability compressor issues that plagued previous all in one internal compressor plasmas.

the Hypertherm 088096 Powermax 30 AIR looks like an interesting choice Here is a thread on it........ http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...owermax-30-air BTW.... For Plasma ...I have had a hypertherm-powermax-1000 for years and love it.... my welders are Miller...........

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[Johnnyappleseed]

It can get pretty loud, and messy, and flamey.... ..

understand, I just need to know if I go for the plasma cutter too will it involve a $300-$500 compressor to really let her rip.

[Olivero]

Worried about sound?....

Maybe plasma cutting is not the way for you... It can get pretty loud, and messy, and flamey.... I almost set fire to a pallet I was using as a makeshift table on a job site yesterday...

[Johnnyappleseed]

the video on this one is pretty convincing seeing how quiet it is.


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[Olivero]

Johnny,

Really depends if you need it to run constantly. I have a rather small one that I use, I have to stop and wait a couple of times for it to fill up.

I have a bigger one that I use for bigger jobs, sucks to drag it around but it can keep cutting for a while.

Is it hobby or making a living?

[Johnnyappleseed]

Can someone with experience with plasma cutter like the Spectrum 625 X-TREME please advise on your experience with air compressor size. Right now I have a small 6 gallon pancake compressor and from the looks of the specs on this plasma cutter i would need to get a pretty dang big compressor to make 6 SCFM at 90 psi !!! Am I looking at a $500 compressor here.

Let me know your thoughts and what you run your plasma cutters with,

as always thank you...