plasma cutter

[retiredIW]

would like to set up a hypo-therm plasma cutter older recondition 45, 220volt. i have air compressor. do i need a dryer for the air. i'm not sure if the cutter already has air system built in or not. salesman didn't have it available to look over it is in shop getting rebuilt.

[Rbeckett]

Dry air is a must for good consumable life and cut quality. I use a couple of the HF dessicant bead driers, but I am in Fla where the humidity is constantly in the 90% range. If you choose not to add a drier you can use loops of air line to trap the water, but sooner or later it will get to the drier on the machine and fill it up. Best practice is to insure clean, dry air in sufficient quantity to prevent this from happening. A water drop through the tip is awesome to watch, especially if the Plaz uses high dollar consumables. You get to watch about 35.00 bucks sizzle and fry. Lots of fun for the wealthy, but not for the rest of us poor folk.
Bob

[jimcolt]

If you are doing occasional cutting and you drain the tank on your compressor daily, then you probably won't have much for water issues. It is always a safe bet as a minimum to install a filter that can absorb or trap moisture before th plasma system.....such as a Motorguard filter, or you can purchase moisture traps /filters from an auto supply store designed for paint spray applications. If you are going to use the plasma a lot, and you live in a humid area (as Bob does), then a refrigerated dryer is best, a dessicant dryer is second best.

You don't say what Hypertherm model you have....if it is a 45, then it cannot be very old as they have only been in production for a couple of years. If you can give me the model number I can tell you what it has for internal protection.

Jim Colt

[retiredIW]

all he could tell me a bout the machine is that this machine was replaced by the newest 45 model the newest

[jimcolt]

Then you must be getting a Powermax600, which is a 40 Amp output machine. Very nice plasma, you will like it. It does have a small moisture trap with an auto drain. Will work ok for occasional use if the compressor tank gets drained daily.

Jim Colt

[Rbeckett]

Humidity in Fla is a real issue, and the refregerated system is definately the way to go , but since the dessicant was what I had to begin with I just added another unit to the mix and chained em so that I got max exposure before it goes into the overhead air system in the shop, it does OK. I have water traps on each down leg and rarely get any at the legs, but I use a lot of different air tools like grinders and sanders too so as air use (CFM) went up I added more driers to prevent the air moisture from getting into expensive air tools and the cutter. You will love the 600, I have a 1000 and it cuts just about anything as fast as I can go most of the time.
Bob

[bert the welder]

I've got the powermax 600. It's a nice machine and easy to move around. I'm waiting on a new fiber collar for the torch to come in to my LWS. The plastic threaded collar that holds the nozzle broke. Really made it a PITA to get the nozzle off as all it would do is spin! Hoping that solves my issues. Not cutting through sometimes( 1/8" mild steel) and some difficultly getting the arc started. Just took the cover off and blew out the dust from the inside and took apart the little water trap and it was clean. Man there are some big-a$$ capacitors in there!!!
Don't forget your respirator when using it!
Didn't mean to hi-jack

[pyroracing85]

what is the powermax 600? Isn't it the power max 45, powermax 60, powermax 85??

[snoeproe]

Your air compressor will dictate how much water you will have in the air as well.
A large 2 stage high CFM compressor will run much cooler and create less condensation than a small single stage low CFM unit that will develop lots of heat and condensation.

[bert the welder]

Originally Posted by pyroracing85

what is the powermax 600? Isn't it the power max 45, powermax 60, powermax 85??

Just a past model name/number

[jimcolt]

The Powermax600 was Hypertherm's 40 Amp air plasma system for quite a few years...there are about 55,000 of them in the field, so it is probably the most popular air plasma ever built. It was replaced a few years ago by the Powermax45 with faster cut speeds, longer consumable life and more consistent cut quality, smaller size, higher duty cycle, better reliability....blah, blah, blah!

Hyperther's current air plasma systems are: Powermax30, Powermax45, Powermax65, Powermax85, Powermax1650, and Max200. 30, 45, 65, 85 100 and 200 Amps respectively.

Jim

[bert the welder]

Originally Posted by jimcolt

The Powermax600 was Hypertherm's 40 Amp air plasma system for quite a few years...there are about 55,000 of them in the field, so it is probably the most popular air plasma ever built. It was replaced a few years ago by the Powermax45 with faster cut speeds, longer consumable life and more consistent cut quality, smaller size, higher duty cycle, better reliability....blah, blah, blah!

Hyperther's current air plasma systems are: Powermax30, Powermax45, Powermax65, Powermax85, Powermax1650, and Max200. 30, 45, 65, 85 100 and 200 Amps respectively.

Jim

Thanks for the inferiority complex, Jim. Probably came out with the 45 a couple days after I bought 600 too, right!

[jimcolt]

Bert,

The 600 is a great plasma....that is why we sold so many. Kind of like computers though.....you never know if you should wait a week before buying a new one!

Jim

[jman]

Although VERY dry here (except Winter), I use a small dryer at the Compressor and then a small screw on type at the very end of my hose. Once the silica in the second (screw on one..) starts to turn color, I change the silica and cotton and then re-check the dryer. I use a PowerMax 30 and it's a great machine.

[bert the welder]

Originally Posted by jimcolt

Bert,

The 600 is a great plasma....that is why we sold so many. Kind of like computers though.....you never know if you should wait a week before buying a new one!

Jim

Yep!