Not trying to start a war or anything, but I’m looking at the powermax1000 or the A60. I’ll probably do most of my cutting on stuff under ¼” but I want to be able to run ½” or bigger when the need arises. Couple of my concerns are:
power consumption, I see that the A60 looks like it pulls about 20 more amps. I don’t want to be paying a unnecessarily high electric bill if it’s not needed.

Size: I have limited space and the A60 is much smaller and lighter.

Cleanliness of the cuts, most of the stuff I’ll be doing will be cosmetic so I don’t want to waste a bunch of time cleaning up parts, I will also be cutting a lot of aluminum.

The A60 has some kind of switch that makes the torch faster or something? Not really sure what this does.

Consumables will play a factor as well.

Thanks for the help, I’m new to this stuff, been welding for awhile now but haven’t been educated on plasma cutting yet. just got my 2X2 yesterday and I’m really excited!

mike

The A60 is actually an 80 amp unit, which is why there is a 20 amp more max draw.

They are both excellent units, the TD has a bit cheaper consumables, and it will cut through a little bit thicker material being an 80 amp unit. There isn't a switch that makes it cut faster, but the 80 amp setting for short periods of time gives you a bigger cutting capacity, or faster speeds through thin material.

The Hypertherm cuts great and is a staple in many shops around the country, neither choice will leave you regretting it, although for doing larger runs of 1/2" and thicker materials, I might suggest taking it to the next level up to give yourself a little more breathing room.

Will the higher amp machine perform well on aluminum?
My cutmaster 38 does not cut .090 aluminum very well. The first cut with new consumables is decent. After 10 minutes use it requires a lot of clean up.
My examples are not on a CNC. Mine are by hand with a straight edge.

You may actually want to look at the Hypertherm Powermax45. I have both the Powermax1000 and the 45. I use the 45 on my 4 x 4 cnc machine up through 1/2" on a daily basis. The 1000 will cut 1/2" a bit faster, but the quality in terms of edge squareness and the consumable life with the newer technology 45 is longer.

If you are comparing to the T-D unit, compare killowatts output and duty cycle. The Powermax1000 has more power and a respectable duty cycle, even though it has 60 amps output. It is killowatts that does the cutting, not amps! Hypertherm is known for its reliability and consumable life, and when you are cutting below 3/16" Hypertherm has the special FineCut consumable that provide narrower kerf and cleaner edges.

If you want the best technology but price is your concern....the Powermax45 has close to the same amount of cutting capability as compared to the T-D 60, at a lower price.


With plasma cutters, just like with welders, you have to read the specs carefully as it is a competitive business and each manufacturer uses a bit of a different twist to get orders. Look at killowatts, duty cycle at full output (some, like the TD show duty cycle at a reduced output!), the ability to drag cut is important.....and I like made in USA.

Jim

The main issue in determing what size plasma cutter is outlet capacity. No matter what the manufacturer says it can do, if you don't have the juice to back it up then it will never cut to that capacity.
Most plasma cutters have and operating constant voltage of 200 volts+-, take that and divide it in the outlet voltage 240/200 = 1.2 multiply that times the outlet breaker 50amps and you get 60 amps of plasma.

To run 80 amps of plasma divide by 1.2 to get a 66 amp breaker requirement.
These figures are rough but close enough to come up with what you will be facing.
3 phase requires a different set of calculations.

Factor in extention cords and the like and you soon realize that there are no free lunchs

I would suggest getting the largest plasma that your breaker can handle or at least plan on having a larger breaker at some time in the future.

good point on the breaker, i didn't think of that. i ran a 50amp with 6ga, i only have 1phase so i guess that is my limiting factor.

jim have any pics of the 45 aluminum cuts?

good point on the breaker, i didn't think of that. i ran a 50amp with 6ga, i only have 1phase so i guess that is my limiting factor.

jim have any pics of the 45 aluminum cuts?

I would not limit your choice based on only having a 50 amp breaker, larger machines have better penetration capabilities and a momentary surge may not hurt your breaker set up during that quick use. More horse power is always nice to have if you need it.

A couple of things as far as the amount of power that i produced by a plasma cutter:

1. Some plasma power supplies are more efficient than others. It is a known fact that inverters are more efficient than "transformer" (drooper) type power supplies....on the same note, some inverter power supplies are considerably more efficient than others. Hypertherm publishes power supply efficiencies on our spec sheets....many companies do not.

2. Torch technology is way different from model to model and brand to brand. If a torch has a clever design that allows it to produce more energy density (measured in amps per square inch) in the arc while providing good consumable life and ease of use.....then the torch makes better use of the available power from the power supply. Faster cuts, thicker material, less dross can be produced a better torch on less power.

I have worked for Hypertherm for over 32 years....when I started in 1978 it took 400 Amps of power to cut 1/2" carbon steel. The cuts were severely tapered and consumable life was bad, and there was almost always heavy dross. The 400 Amp power supply weighed over 2000 lbs.

Today a Hypertherm Powermax 30 (weighs 20 lbs) can sever 1/2" steel with ease, operating on 120 volts. A Powermax 45 can cut 1/2" dross free operating on 240 volt single phase drawing about 37 amps from the outlet.

Torches and power supplies have come a long way. I have watched the engineering at Hypertherm for over 30 years, between power supply and electronics technology and the advanced physics used to improve torches....the advancements have been amazing. All Hypertherm in my shop!

Here are some pics of a 3/16" aluminum job I recently did with the Powermax45 on my cnc machine as well as 3/8" stainless steel signs that I cut for 5 of Hypertherms manufacturing plants in NH also using the 45.

Jim Colt


good point on the breaker, i didn't think of that. i ran a 50amp with 6ga, i only have 1phase so i guess that is my limiting factor.

jim have any pics of the 45 aluminum cuts?

wow