Need advice on Plasma Cutter for sealed Units

Fwiw we've got a couple of suppliers that bring us the copper from them in large quantity and they use table saws

I started out with Everlast, which I now refer to as Neverlast. After 2 machines failing me, I went with Hypertherm on Joe's recommendation. Haven't looked back since. I have and LOVE the PowerMax 45. Haven't come across anything I couldn't cut. One thing I really like with this one over the Everlast is when I lose my arc, I can restrike instantly. With the Everlast there was a 2/3 second delay before it would restrike. That may not seem like much but if you have a mountain of compressors to get through...

Oh, also the consumables last FAR longer with the Hypertherm. The fact I could buy consumables in large quantity for the "Everlast" should have been my first clue they don't last.

I too use hypertherm. I got the 30xp. It’s all you need for sealed units. I was gonna get a Hobart to start out but because of the discount at the welding place I go to the hypertherm was actually cheaper and better. The tips usually last me around 100 units or so before I replace them. They could go longer but it starts to really slow down around 100 units in. I run that and my compressor and grinder off a rigid 6.8kw generator. The torch line can also be spliced back together if you drop a unit on your line. With some of the cheaper plasmas like lincoln’s I found in the junk pile at work splicing the torch line back together would have been next to impossible. And yes I am running mine with a splice in it. That’s the only reason I know this.

Originally Posted by IdahoScrapper

I started out with Everlast, which I now refer to as Neverlast. After 2 machines failing me, I went with Hypertherm on Joe's recommendation. Haven't looked back since. I have and LOVE the PowerMax 45. Haven't come across anything I couldn't cut. One thing I really like with this one over the Everlast is when I lose my arc, I can restrike instantly. With the Everlast there was a 2/3 second delay before it would restrike. That may not seem like much but if you have a mountain of compressors to get through...

Oh, also the consumables last FAR longer with the Hypertherm. The fact I could buy consumables in large quantity for the "Everlast" should have been my first clue they don't last.

does the 45 run on 220v?

Originally Posted by blackgold12

Doe's your 30XP have pilot arc, when you sliced the hose back together how did yo reconnect the braided copper line that's inside the hose.

That braided copper is the same gauge as the ground wire but without insulation, the hose insulates the cable.

I also have a 6.5kw generator mine runs of vegetable oil, SR2 Lister air cooled diesel engine.

it does have a pilot arc. And the cables inside the hose, there is 3 white wires I believe that can be soldered back together in any which way you can get them since they all come off of and end on the same stud. Hypertherm does that so the hose is more flexible instead of running a really thick gauge wire for ground. Then there’s a few other color coded wires. We just soldered them and maybe put a wire nut and tons of tape on them. The air line I went and got one of them small double barbed plumbing fitting from Home Depot. That’s all that’s involved. Some other companies use like a mesh almost like in coax wire but hypertherm has nothing but like 20 gauge wires and the air line. Running up. I did have to cut some of the air line back an inch or so to be able to get the fitting in there and still have room to work the wires together.

Originally Posted by ScrapmanIndustries

does the 45 run on 220v?

Yes it does.

I have a biltek cut50 plasma cutter and a predator 4000 generator. Is that generator going to have enough power to run that plasma cutter. The plasma cutter has the 110 volt plug in.

Thanks for that info. I just got it out of the box and didn't hook it to generator but to a 110v grounded and made a 220v plug/outlet for it as well. Tried it both ways and I get no air blowing up to torch hose. Clamp grounded. Compressor regulator is reading fine and the fan kicks on but zero spark at torch. Any ideas?

Maybe someone else could jump in ?

I know a little bit about the electrical specs but that's about the limit of my knowledge.

It is Chinese made but that doesn't necessarily make it bad. You could try calling tech support if they've got a number listed in the owner's manual.

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Just a question about torching a sealed unit. You would probably drill a hole in the bottom and drain the oil first.

I would think that there's some oil residue inside. Would the oil residue vaporize & ignite when you torched it ? Maybe go off like a cannon ?

Ahh well ... questions answered.

They covered this seven years ago.

https://www.scrapmetalforum.com/tool...lar-torch.html

Originally Posted by NinjaGal

I have a biltek cut50 plasma cutter and a predator 4000 generator. Is that generator going to have enough power to run that plasma cutter. The plasma cutter has the 110 volt plug in.

I run my plasma and welders off a 6.8kw generator all the time with no problems to either. ridgid's put out a really smooth current. about 200 hours or more on both generators i run. Hypertherm says their powermax 45xp should be hooked up to at least a 12kw generator to run full bore. but you wont ever get close to that with sealed units as that machine can cut like 3/4 of an inch and your only cutting 1/8 inch. so the watts required will not be nearly 12kw. i only run the 30xp though. way smaller. but regardless you should be able to cut sealed units no problem. as for the machine problems let me get back to that

Originally Posted by NinjaGal

Thanks for that info. I just got it out of the box and didn't hook it to generator but to a 110v grounded and made a 220v plug/outlet for it as well. Tried it both ways and I get no air blowing up to torch hose. Clamp grounded. Compressor regulator is reading fine and the fan kicks on but zero spark at torch. Any ideas?

if your getting no air double check your connections and open the valve/regulator on the machine. on your machine cutting compressors you need to grind the base and ground directly to the compressor. try that. if that don't work also grind where you want to start your arc. if that still don't work take it back if you can and get a hypertherm. i got my hypertherm powermax 30xp for about the same price as the way smaller hobart. hypertherm puts **** tons of money into the research they do. they may seem like they cost more initially but if your planning on actually using it i guarantee you its cheaper it the long run. they make them so you can just smack the torch down on what ever you want to cut and drag that thing down the line. cutting compressors apart thats what you want because you'll move way quicker. the tips last a really long time in the hypertherm as well. theres almost no maintenance to do to them except for occasionally draining the water separator thing every now and then. and the torch is splicable if your unfortunate enough to drop a compressor on it unlike the lincoln's i saw come into the junk pile. they had like some coax type mesh wire running up the torch. hypertherm is like 6 or 8 20 gauge wires and an airline. (ask me how I know)

I know everyone starts somewhere but if your serious about cutting sealed units apart get a hypertherm. Me freonjoe and idahoscrapper all got hypertherms for the sealed units. if you need a visual on how to cut these things look me up on youtube. under the same name but with scrap processing at the end of it. you'll see how i cut them with the plasma take note to how i got the ground hooked up. you may even see me grind the base too. i can't remember. you'll also need to watch my motor video to see how i do the stators as i didn't get around to filming the whole process of the sealed unit yet. I'm trying to acquire all the different types so i can show them all in one video for my how to on that. gotta get back to America first though.

Also wear some type of respirator. I peeled my filters apart to see how bad they were after a few runs of compressors and there was a pretty thick film on there. the filters caught most of it. but i wouldn't want to breath all that in all the time. i made that a video too i think.

Ok now got the plasma cutter to turn on and get air but I only get air when the trigger is not pressed. I press the trigger and no air comes thru. I realize it's a cheap plasma cutter but any ideas or suggestions? Any help would be appreciated.