pierre71
04-18-2009, 07:09 AM
It took an extra day or two to test my cutter but I did get it within a reasonable time (6 business days from ordering).
This is only the second time I used a plasma cutter in my life. I opened it up to check things out, especially for loose connections that I've heard about on other posts here. All the connectors were glued down, so it looks like things coming apart due to shipping mishaps shouldn't happen anymore. Indeed it does have Toshiba parts in it as advertised.
Getting it wired up and started was straight forward. The regulator it comes with blocks the fan partially. I'm thinking of building a cart for it, so I'll probably remove it from the intended spot to the cart and maybe ditch it all together and use a more substantial filter/regulator.
The first thing I noticed was the dial pointer / printed numbers do not agree with the display. The printed amps on the label go from 10-40, but the display reaches zero a little before the knob is all the way to the left. I think someone else’s videos I saw on the net did this too, so no big deal. It still does cut, so it appears the display is only for visual effect and doesn't sense the true output current.
Next thing was how tricky it was to get an arc going and maintain it. I don't remember the Hypertherm I used previously being like this, however that was a few months ago. Likely due to my inexperience and the thicker paint on the material I was trying to cut. Which leads me to another annoyance - the pilot arc will come on but if the regular arc isn't struck, the pilot arc extinguishes. Air will still flow through the torch for so many seconds and won't let you try to strike another arc until it goes out. Makes it harder to try and take off a little material at a time.
The bent wire standoff it comes with makes the torch a bit hard to maneuver if the surface being cut isn't clean and flat. I tried to remove it and drag the torch but couldn't get an arc this way without tilting the torch back. I bet those rolling standoffs would work better. All I had within arms reach was some 1/8" and 18-ish awg sheet that it zipped through. When I bring out the 1/4" I'll try and remember to update this.
Simon, is there any functional difference between the "large" and "small" consumables for the pilot arc torches? The small ones have the hole recessed, maybe making the torch spacer unnecessary and easier to drag with?
All in all, for the price I am happy with the purchase. If your on the fence about getting something this cheap compared to a more well known name brand, you will be pleasantly surprised about what you get for half the price.
This is only the second time I used a plasma cutter in my life. I opened it up to check things out, especially for loose connections that I've heard about on other posts here. All the connectors were glued down, so it looks like things coming apart due to shipping mishaps shouldn't happen anymore. Indeed it does have Toshiba parts in it as advertised.
Getting it wired up and started was straight forward. The regulator it comes with blocks the fan partially. I'm thinking of building a cart for it, so I'll probably remove it from the intended spot to the cart and maybe ditch it all together and use a more substantial filter/regulator.
The first thing I noticed was the dial pointer / printed numbers do not agree with the display. The printed amps on the label go from 10-40, but the display reaches zero a little before the knob is all the way to the left. I think someone else’s videos I saw on the net did this too, so no big deal. It still does cut, so it appears the display is only for visual effect and doesn't sense the true output current.
Next thing was how tricky it was to get an arc going and maintain it. I don't remember the Hypertherm I used previously being like this, however that was a few months ago. Likely due to my inexperience and the thicker paint on the material I was trying to cut. Which leads me to another annoyance - the pilot arc will come on but if the regular arc isn't struck, the pilot arc extinguishes. Air will still flow through the torch for so many seconds and won't let you try to strike another arc until it goes out. Makes it harder to try and take off a little material at a time.
The bent wire standoff it comes with makes the torch a bit hard to maneuver if the surface being cut isn't clean and flat. I tried to remove it and drag the torch but couldn't get an arc this way without tilting the torch back. I bet those rolling standoffs would work better. All I had within arms reach was some 1/8" and 18-ish awg sheet that it zipped through. When I bring out the 1/4" I'll try and remember to update this.
Simon, is there any functional difference between the "large" and "small" consumables for the pilot arc torches? The small ones have the hole recessed, maybe making the torch spacer unnecessary and easier to drag with?
All in all, for the price I am happy with the purchase. If your on the fence about getting something this cheap compared to a more well known name brand, you will be pleasantly surprised about what you get for half the price.