Hypertherm Powermax 45 Plamsa Cutter Mini 'Review'

[Argon18]

Hi everyone! Haven't posted here in a while, but I just got a Hypertherm Powermax 45 Plamsa Cutter for xmas!:D
http://www.thefabricator.com/Landing_Pages/images/powermax-45.jpg
I finally got to try it today, as it was raining here yesterday, and needless to say I was very very impressed! The unit itself was smaller and more lightweight than my dynasty dx. This was also my first time using a plasma cutter, and it was intuitive to operate! Makes cuts like a hot knife through butta!!:cool: Seemed to do very well with thicker materials as well. I would definitely recommend this machine! Im sure ill be posting up some pictures of my upcoming projects!!

-Pete

[Butters]

Hi everyone! Haven't posted here in a while, but I just got a Hypertherm Powermax 45 Plamsa Cutter for xmas!:D
http://www.thefabricator.com/Landing_Pages/images/powermax-45.jpg
I finally got to try it today, as it was raining here yesterday, and needless to say I was very very impressed! The unit itself was smaller and more lightweight than my dynasty dx. This was also my first time using a plasma cutter, and it was intuitive to operate! Makes cuts like a hot knife through butta!!:cool: Seemed to do very well with thicker materials as well. I would definitely recommend this machine! Im sure ill be posting up some pictures of my upcoming projects!!

-Pete

Congrats! I just went yesterday and treated myself to a Powermax 30. I havent used it yet because they were out of filters. I ordered a neat little miller filter that should be here by Wed. I am pretty excited about the chance to use it.

[gordfraser]

how does the 45 do on 1/2" stainless steel?

[SundownIII]

gordfraser,

Do you really think the average hobbiest just happens to have a bunch of 1/2" stainless steel plate laying around?

I can't specifically address the PM 45 (never used one) but I do have a PM 600 and a PM 1250 which are of the same family.

Both machines will do EVERYTHING the manufacturer claims they will, and most of the time, more.

The PM 45 is "rated" to cut 1/2" mild steel and 1/2" stainless. Max cut speed is slightly slower for SS vs MS.

Both my plasma's cut SS well. Obviously, the 1250 (80A) is much faster.

A 1/2" plasma cut piece of SS will never have as "clean" a cut as MS, as long as you use compressed air. Different gas mixes will yield a cleaner cut but that's something the average guy doesn't need to concern himself with.

If you plan on cutting a great deal of 1/2" stainless steel, I'd recommend you get on the phone and discuss your requirements with the engineers at Hypertherm.

Bottom Line: Hypertherm machines do what the manufacturer claims. Their product literature clearly states the PM 45 will clean cut 1/2" SS.

[Hotfoot]

"If you plan on cutting a great deal of 1/2" stainless steel, I'd recommend you get on the phone and discuss your requirements with the engineers at Hypertherm."
...or a Waterjet!:) What the heck are you making from 1/2" Stainless, anyways, Gordfraser??

[SundownIII]

Hotfoot,

LMAO at your comment.

Pretty good bet, that even if he cut it, he wouldn't have anything "to put it back together".

You're right though. Even using Nitrogen gas the plasma cut is nowhere comparable to the water jet. When you consider the cost of the base material, we use the waterjet 90% of the time, even though it's considerably slower than the plasma. We're using the Hypertherm HPR260 on the table.