Plasma Cutter

[Wacko Welder]

Just curious if you can have a plasma cutter that is to powerful.

I would like to have the capability of a Hypertherm 1000, but I'm sure most of my cutting would be thin sheet metal . . . .

Will a more powerful plasma cutter make it harder to do thin / intricate cuts?

Steve

[welder_guy]

It depends if there is a knob where you can adjust the power or amprege.
if it is too high than the thin slot of metal that is blown away will become wider. 12 amps cuts through the metal on car hoods really fast. but,if you use the Hypertherm 1000 on the same material than you will cut it up really fast and loose a huge slot of metal and possibily even warp the edges of the cut. i would reccomend the hypertherm 375 Powermax30
or the miller spectrum 375

[Archaic]

I have a Hypertherm Powermax 1000 G3. With the regular 60 Amp nozzle it produces a beautiful cut in 3/4" steel. Except for the fine feathering lines it almost looks like it has been sheared.

With the fine cut nozzles I have cut a LOT of 16 gauge stainless and mild steel. It does an outstanding job. 1/16" kerf. Quick and no warpage. I have not cut a lot of 24 gauge metal, but on the little that I have done I got a really good cut with the same 1/16" kerf.

The 1000 can be dialed way back. For a thin cut on thin metal the fine cut nozzles need to be used. I have not really ever heard anyone say that they wish they had bought a smaller plasma cutter, but I know quite a few that wish they had one with greater capabilities. It takes a while to get used to the speed of the cut with a plasma cutter. If you are going to be primarily cutting 24 gauge then one of the smaller plasma cutters may make more sense. But, when the thicker stuff comes along you quickly hit the wall.

[fun4now]

For a thin cut on thin metal the fine cut nozzles need to be used.
thats the key to a good cut on thin stuff with larger cutters. this has been coverd a few times and its always ending with you need to have it dialed down and a small torch or cutter attachment.
sounds like Archaic has got you coverd.

I have not really ever heard anyone say that they wish they had bought a smaller plasma cutter, but I know quite a few that wish they had one with greater capabilities.
well put, just be shore the one you are choosing is set up to accommodate small cuts. i wish i had gone larger when i got my plasma cutter. but a good deal on a much larger unit that would not adjust down would have been a bad choice as 90% of my cutting is 12 gage and below. so a thin curf is a must have, an 80 amp cutter is not going to give me the results i need unless its set up to adjust. you need to make changes to the amps and the torch to get good results on thin sheet.


welcome to the wonderful world of plasma cutting. its just way cool

[welder_guy]

yes i do aggre, it is nice to have a plasma cutter that cuts thick metal