Choosing a plasma but which one

[Matadem]

Since I got a new welder... now I need something to cut metal :D

I've been reading allot and came between these 2
Hypertherm powermax 30 and the Miller spectrum xtreme 375

Both are light which is good

The Hypertherm seems a bit faster
but the specs on the miller is sever cut on 5/8" and the hypertherm is 1/2"

Anyone used these and have some suggestions or recomendations?

Thanks in advance

[Geezer]

I have been looking for a good used plasma machine for some time now, specifically Hypertherm 600. A friend on mine that works in a lab as a consultant for a major welding company told me Hypertherm is the standard all else work towards. I believe Hypertherm manufactures Miller torch. Sorry, no other real hands.

[platypus20]

2 people I know have the Miller 375, and I have the Hypertherm 30, they both are great machines, you really can't go wrong with either one of them. The Hypertherm will sever 5/8" steel, I have done it, it is slow and is a severance cut, not a quality cut. I bought a Hypertherm originallly, a Max 40, about 20 yrs ago, and have own Millers, Lincoln and TD, and kept coming back to Hypertherm, I also won a Hypertherm Powermax 1250. The technical service and assistance from Hypertherm is second to none.

jack

[Hammack_Welding]

I agree, the hypertherm has never let me down. I have a Powermax 30 and I have cut 5/8" with it as well. I also have a 600. The consumables last longer than any other I have used, and I've never been unhappy with any hypertherm product I've used. If I buy another plasma it will be a hypertherm as well.

[FWI]

Thumbs up for the Hypertherm Plasma. Very good machines.

[bigphil]

I have a powermax 600 never let me down you can not go wrong with hypertherm

[RickSidebottom]

I vote hypertherm.

I love my 600. JM.02W

[PJinNJ]

Have a 380 and love it for the past three years.

[joatmon]

I love my (work) powermax 1000....especially the ability to flip a switch to keep the arc when cutting expanded metal!

[rottsrule]

i got it narrowed down to either thermaldynamics true cut 39 or hypertherm 30.price being the same and consumable access the same wich would you choose and why or why did u make your choice?mostly i will be cutting 3/16 and under.i do know i can get a gouge tip for the thermaldynamics the hyper you can not.any thoughts on wich one would be appreciated.thanks:confused:

[Northweldor]

I was faced with the same choice, and for me , the question was did I want the light weight and great portability / small size of the Hypertherm PM30, or the heavier, larger, more rugged construction of the TD 39. With near equal performance (in my experience), I decided I needed the PM30, but if I had been expecting to work under more rugged conditions, I would have chosen the TD 39.

[Aeroweld]

I've got an old Hypertherm Max 40 that has finally given up the ghost. I've been looking to replace it with one of the smaller units like the Miller 375 Extreme or the Hypertherm Power Max 30. For me, one of the deciding factors is how well will either do 3/8" and 1/2" aluminum. I don't do a lot of it but do want the capability for the occasional job. Obviously, I'm only expecting severance quality at those thicknesses. What do you guys recommend between the two machines?

[rottsrule]

any thoughts on a hypertherm 600 or a thermal dynamics true cut 52 cost being the same.any one ever compare these 2 or try head to head.:confused:

[engnerdan]

I just got a powermax 30 and it is a sweet machine, I would recommend it any day. It is light and makes a great cut, in addition the consumables are suppose to last about the longest of any of the makers from what I have read.

-Dan

[Aeroweld]

I just got a powermax 30 and it is a sweet machine, I would recommend it any day. It is light and makes a great cut, in addition the consumables are suppose to last about the longest of any of the makers from what I have read.

-Dan

Dan,
Have you cut any 3/8" or 1/2" aluminum with the P/max 30?

[engnerdan]

From what I was reading (I think on Millers Website) when cutting aluminum you can only cut half the thickness that the machine is rated for in steel. I have cut some 1/16 and 1/8 aluminum but nothing thicker with the PM30 yet. I did use a Spectrum Xtreme on some 1/4 aluminum and it did it, not great but it cut it. The cut quality of aluminum is kind of disapointing after seeing how clean of a cut you get in steel.

-Dan

[Aeroweld]

IIRC the 375 Extreme is rated at 5/8" steel "Sever Cut" (Do-able, but the cut is slow and rough). I've heard that if the machine is rated for a particular size steel, in this case 5/8", it should cut a size lower in aluminum.
There was a Miller Mini Road Show at this year's Autorama here in Detroit. I asked the Rep if he had any 3/8" or 1/2" aluminum to cut and they didn't have anything that thick. He stacked 4 pcs. of 1/8" and tried to demonstate tha machines capabilities. The results were barely ok from my point of view. However the fact that the pieces were stacked and trying to make a cut through laminated material didn't really tell the true story. It was a crud example at best of the machine's capibilities without true 1/2" material.

[danzx11c]

I have a force 400 and I tried to cut 3/8 aluminum no go cut with a power saw . Dan

[engnerdan]

IIRC the 375 Extreme is rated at 5/8" steel "Sever Cut" (Do-able, but the cut is slow and rough). I've heard that if the machine is rated for a particular size steel, in this case 5/8", it should cut a size lower in aluminum.
There was a Miller Mini Road Show at this year's Autorama here in Detroit. I asked the Rep if he had any 3/8" or 1/2" aluminum to cut and they didn't have anything that thick. He stacked 4 pcs. of 1/8" and tried to demonstate tha machines capabilities. The results were barely ok from my point of view. However the fact that the pieces were stacked and trying to make a cut through laminated material didn't really tell the true story. It was a crud example at best of the machine's capibilities without true 1/2" material.

Stacking it should be just about as good as having a piece of 1/2 as long as they all lay flat. I tired cutting some 3/8 aluminum with a extreme, it did it but not very cleanly.

-Dan