Thread: Plasma cutters-- how useful?

Great question, I am very interested to see what answers you get...

Squirrel

In answer to your question normally not cheaper than a Drop Saw.
They are good to use,you will also require a Compressor or Compressed Oxygen for them to opperate.
They will cut Solid and Hollow material,Angle,depending on the amount of Amps the unit has.
Will cut a wide variety of materials.
Would be slow to cut Tube or Angle,they are more suited to Plate and Sheet metal.

The majority of hand plasma systems that ewill operate from single phase power operate using air only. Be careful about what is writen on sales brochures as most are very misleading on what the real material thickness they will cut.
With the correct product you can cut all electrically conductive materials, and are very good for cutting thin materials very quickly and without distortion. A good quality plasma would be quite expensive to buy but inexpensive to run.
You will require a compressor with a good air filter to remove oil and moisture.
Plainit

Plasma cutters. The lower end of the market will often have their own inbuilt compressor, which is very handy and makes the whole thing very easy to use. But often as not they are let down by their electronics and spend more time in repair than anything else.

Unless you have a a good budget and a fair amount of work for it. The quality cutters would be expensive for the Hobby welder,although they are coming down some.

As to how good they are, it does pay to check over the duty cycle if you plan a lot of work. The lower end of the market wont have much of a duty cycle and wont like allot of sustained work.

As a tool they are brilliant IMHO. I work with allot of stainless and here they are outstanding.Single phase but often 15amp plug is required, many grind the earth down to fit 10amp outlets. This is not a good idea to say the least, but its wide spread so much so, when I bought a new cutter recently it had the earth pin already ground down....from the distributor. go figure

Single phase plasma systems (25-30amp) will require a 15amp power supply to operate correctly. Most 10amp power outlets have a 16amp circut breaker so the wiring to the wall socket has to support 15amps. It is advisable to check with your electrician to make sure your supply is not supporting to many outlets in your house/shead. I have a seperate supply from my switch board to my shead and only operate one item at a time.
Plasma systems with built in compressors are designed for light gauge cutting (maximum 3mm) and were designed to be used by people installing duct work for air conditioning etc, not heavy material. A good quality unit should not give you electrical problems but they will not be cheap.

Hi there,
I have an 80amp single phase unit that I purchased off EBAY from China,It cost me
$795.00 plus $225.00 for the freight from China to East Gippsland Victoria.Australia.
My plasma cutter will cut 34mm material with no problems at all.
I seem to use it every time I go into the shed for even the smallest of jobs.(maybe im just lazy.!!!) lol.
But I have no idea how I lived without it before.I would have to say the best thing I have
bought in a long long time..

80amp single phase!! what size single phase outlet do you have?
Most people do not have a 30amp single phase outlet and this will only operate a very efficent 45amp plasma.
Please post details.

Please remember that my plasma cutter and most of those on the market today are
inverter technology.I have still had a 45amp socket put in by a qualified electrician,who assures me this is very much overkill. Because of the inverter technology the plasma cutters do not draw heaps of current.
Hope this can help you make a decision with your purchase..