For those with a Powermax 45

[Lanse]

How do you like it? Ive yet to hear a bad thing about Hypertherm's customer service, but Im still curious. Ive been setting aside some money for the "plasma fund" for quite a while, but Im still not 100% ready to take the jump yet, itll be my first plasma and biggest purchase like ever lol...

I'll probably be ordering off of ebay. Most of my projects now use about 1/4" material, so I could probably go with a Powermax 30, but Ive got plans for bigger projects, and I defiantly dont want to out grow something in a year or two. I decided to buy a plasma because most of what I work on/with is rusty and painted and dirty, and because acetylene costs 170% what it did last year when I stocked up, and I now have to go to a different state to buy it (I live in the middle of no where).

Is there anything you regret about buying the 45? Anything you'd do differently? I cant find on Hypertherm's website a definative answer on if it has an expanded-metal mode, the much older Hypertherms at my high school do, where you can cut wire mesh by pulling the trigger and moving across the material just like you would with sheet metal or anything else.

Thanks guys :drinkup:

[LarryO]

Had no troubles with my 45. Love using it.

No complaints what so ever. Long consumable life. ( My first lasted a year with a few production runs, 50+ units, test cuts and a little abuse. Cut a rail section )

Changed consumables and did a test with pics somewhere on WW.

All i would advise is to go with a little more power than you think you will need.

[gordfraser]

id buy the pm 65 or 85! lol
i like the 45 portable and works well up to 1/2" steel, it will cut thicker, iv cut 1" cleanly, but real slow.
If i had a lot of 1" id pull out the oxy torch.

1/4" is FAST

the PM 45 has a " mesh/ grating " setting.

my only slight regret is a bigger machine, but i am happy with the 45.
great plasma for the mobile truck.
I might eventually get a bigger one for the shop.
probably a PM.

They have some new technology coming out that addresses the tapering of holes caused by the air jet (this happens to all plasmas till now)
I cant remember the ins and outs if it, but it MIGHT be only available in the High Definition plasmas $$$

still worth checking into brfore you take the plunge

[Skiziks]

I know what you mean about the plasma fund. I just got a Powermax 45, but I'm still setting up my air system and haven't fired it up yet. I researched alot and Hypertherm seemed the way to go. I expected to buy online too, but made one last stop at the local welding supply and got an outstanding deal. Less than 50 bucks over the online price, well worth it in my mind to have a place to go for service and advice.

[MajorMetal]

The PM45 is a great machine. I've had mine since March and I'm not sure how I got along without it. I cut mostly gauge stuff but occasionally cut heavier stuff. I also wanted the option of CNC down the road which the 30 doesnt have. Just don't forget your air system when saving up.

[Tool Junkie]

I haven't had mine very long , but I don't know how I functioned before I got it.
I live 26 mi. from the closest LWS and it seems like every time I needed to torch something , one or the other gas tanks ran out in the middle( usually at a time when the LWS wasn't open to boot), and the cost has sky rocketed. I don't have to worry about that now, as long as long as we don't run out of air to compress, and the consumables are a fraction the cost of refilling tanks.

[Swamp rat]

The 45 is a great machine , i use mine on a service truck and also in the shop. As already said - consumables last for ever , also not mentioned yet is the gouging feature - this is so much faster and more accurate than torch. MOST important will be air quality - done cheat on quality filters.

[Lanse]

Thanks you guys, this is exactly the kind of thing that Im looking for. Plan on taking the plunge soon here lol :D

[SmokinPRanch]

Search the internet before cutting loose on Ebay. When I bought mine saved a few bucks that way.

Wanted to buy at LWS but they couldn't come close with taxes and all.

Al

[specter]

A good place to look for the PowerMax 45 is http://store.weldersource.com/hyplcu.html at $1,530 its a very good buy with no shipping cost or taxes. Plus the folks at Weldersource also throw in some freebies. There are also plenty of other good online suppliers out there its just a matter of searching.

Always plan to buy a cutter bigger than what you currently need! Figure on the future of what is the largest material you might cut.Air quality is VERY important so plan on your new purchase including a Good filter to keep moisture from reaching your cutter. Moisture will greatly affect performance and consumable life.

After using your cutter if you notice a buildup of cutting slag on the cutter tip use a brass brush to gently clean off the slag build up. Doing this will increase the quality of your cuts as well as the ease of dragging alone the surface of the material. It also extends your consumable life! if you have a heavy buildup your cutter has to work harder to perform the same cuts and harder work means shorter consumable life.

If you plan to go periods of time between use consider buying a cover for your PM 45 to keep out dust and other critters such as spiders. Spiders and other bugs will also love hiding in the air intake on the back of your PM45 so consider also covering the open end of the air intake will the cutter is not in use

If you search through the Hypertherm forum here you find many posts showing exactly what the PM45 can do.

[Lanse]

Well guys, I did it!! Im officially $1550 lighter. Ive never spent that much money before, on ANYTHING!! Jeeze.

Im feeling pretty tense, because Ive also never ordered anything online before. Gotta start somewhere and its go big or go home, I guess!! lol. I could have gotten a Chinese one for like 1/3 of that, but I plan to run my own shop someday and so its either buy one then, or get the Chinese one, and eventually have to make the dreaded "I was gonna have it done on time, but my machine just blew up" phone call.

I cant believe I actually ordered the thing. This is SWEET!! lol.

Im excited, as Im sure yall can tell. Thanks for the advice everyone!! :)

[DSW]

You'll be quite happy with the PM45. You do want to make sure you supply it with plenty of clean dry air. That means making sure you drain the compressor and filter stacks regularly, add an additional motorcraft filter like many here have done, and possibly a refrigerated dryer as well. If you treat the air like you were going to do a high class spray job with it you won't have any issues.

[Lanse]

Thanks DSW!! I plan on getting a motorguard filter, that seems to be the standard...

[morgaj1]

I am excited for you Lanse. I bought an Everlast, but if I had it to do over again, I would get the Powermax 45. I have not had any trouble with it, but it is always in the back of mind whether it is going to work. Let us know how it turns out.

[Mick120]

Lanse,
Good choice mate, you won't regret the decision.
Regards filters, it also depends where you're located.
I'm in a semi tropical region of Australia and, as a consequence have to run a refrigerator dryer as well as plenty of filtration because of the high humidity.
I'm down to sub micronic filtering, if I went one more, I'd have hospital grade air.
Your biggest enemy is moisture in the system, it kills consumables very quickly.
Bare minimum should be a motorgard.

[jimcolt]

Thanks from all of the employee/owners of Hypertherm for purchasing the Powermax45. We are all here to ensure it will work for you for many years. Let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards, Jim Colt



Well guys, I did it!! Im officially $1550 lighter. Ive never spent that much money before, on ANYTHING!! Jeeze.

Im feeling pretty tense, because Ive also never ordered anything online before. Gotta start somewhere and its go big or go home, I guess!! lol. I could have gotten a Chinese one for like 1/3 of that, but I plan to run my own shop someday and so its either buy one then, or get the Chinese one, and eventually have to make the dreaded "I was gonna have it done on time, but my machine just blew up" phone call.

I cant believe I actually ordered the thing. This is SWEET!! lol.

Im excited, as Im sure yall can tell. Thanks for the advice everyone!! :)

[WeldingMachine]

Grats, you will love it!

[welderShane]

All i can say is WOW. I got my new powermax 30 today and im blown away with the quality and cut quality. Even cutting 1/2'' thick is was alittle slow but amazing. 1/8 and 1/4'' is like butter!! Hypertherm all the way! You will love yours

[duaneb55]

Congrats Lance! :drinkup:

Now let's see how long it takes you to stop reaching for the striker when you go to make a cut. :D

[Swamp rat]

Congats Lance - you will be very pleased !

[BlauSchuh]

Congrats.. a sweet Hypertherm is on my list once i get my shop up and running..

Whenever I am in need of a chuckle I re-read that plasma shootout thread from a year or so ago.... the one where the foreign units either performed like crap, or they couldn't meet their stated specifications... ("oh, we forgot to tell the webmaster to change the max sever from 1" to 0.5", we'll get that fixed"... lol). Meanwhile Jim chimes in every once in a while with some pics and comments.. "Here's a pic of the hypertherm 30 cutting 8" plate. didn't know it could do that" , "i just ripped through a linear mile of 1/4" late with only one set of consumables, nice" ... exaggerations i know..

[Lanse]

Its here guys!! All I can say is that it is AWESOME!! Videos and pics coming up. It was my friends 18th bday today, so I havent spent much time at home, but I have cut up some scrap with it. Its sweet!! Still feels really foreign tho, Im not used to plasma cutting like I was cutting with a torch, but I like it!! Haha. It cuts way better than the older 600s we have at school. I think Im in love :)

[Mick120]

Congrats.. a sweet Hypertherm is on my list once i get my shop up and running..

Whenever I am in need of a chuckle I re-read that plasma shootout thread from a year or so ago.... the one where the foreign units either performed like crap, or they couldn't meet their stated specifications... ("oh, we forgot to tell the webmaster to change the max sever from 1" to 0.5", we'll get that fixed"... lol). Meanwhile Jim chimes in every once in a while with some pics and comments.. "Here's a pic of the hypertherm 30 cutting 8" plate. didn't know it could do that" , "i just ripped through a linear mile of 1/4" late with only one set of consumables, nice" ... exaggerations i know..

Crikey.....I just went back and read the shootout.....that should be made mandatory reading for anyone thinking of buying a plasma cutter.
I realise this is raking over old coals but, I feel sorry for you Specter.
Also wonder if anyone did final testing of the 45..???
Or felt they even had to.....:)

[Mick120]

Oops....found it.
Funny how it turned out just as I expected....

[Bikespot]

Post a link to the shoot out i would like to see that. Congrats on the plasma , i watched the vids too.

[Mick120]

Post a link to the shoot out i would like to see that. Congrats on the plasma , i watched the vids too.

Read it here.....eye opening stuff.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=28523&highlight=plasma+shootout

Specters test of the Powermax 45 can be found here.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=28873&highlight=powermax+test

Like I said, this is really raking over old coals but, after having these threads pointed out and especially after reading both, I reckon they should be made mandatory reading for anyone considering purchasing a plasma cutter.
It may just save your bacon.

[Bikespot]

Read it here.....eye opening stuff.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=28523&highlight=plasma+shootout

Specters test of the Powermax 45 can be found here.

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=28873&highlight=powermax+test

Like I said, this is really raking over old coals but, after having these threads pointed out and especially after reading both, I reckon they should be made mandatory reading for anyone considering purchasing a plasma cutter.
It may just save your bacon.

I remember that thread from way back , but i never did stick around long enough to find out the results.

If i had a way to make some extra money with a plasma cutter i would get one. Right now im out of ideas and not much room to work with here.