Author Topic: Plasma Cutter  (Read 15185 times)

Offline doubleboost

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Plasma Cutter
« on: December 01, 2013, 05:33:14 PM »
Hi
Lads
Got a new toy to play with


John

Offline AdeV

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2013, 07:53:23 AM »
I can't watch the video right now as I'm on a client site - but they are rather brilliant things, aren't they?

I bought an old transformer based Cebora (partly because I don't trust this newfangled Chinese inverter stuff, and partly just because I like the heavy duty), it's brilliant. Cuts 10mm steel like it wasn't there. Cuts aluminium too. Shame it deosn't cut wood, really, it'd be perfect if it did...
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline trevoratxtal

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2013, 03:11:46 AM »
Hello Doubleboost
They are great machines,BUT if not fitted with low air pressure cut out can cost a fortune.
If it has not got one fit one,
Same goes for an air dryer fitted on the air input. (From the clip would suggest is to small fit another in line.)
Only set the cutting current to just do the job, over current uses the electrodes quicker!
To cut non metals lay a sheet of metal on top up the current and try it.
To cut rod or tube make up a hand rotating chuck and keep the torch still, cuts much neater and to the centre.
Have fun
Trev

Offline AdeV

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #3 on: December 03, 2013, 03:40:48 PM »
Mine has the low-air cutout, it has a regulator fitted to the back to keep the input pressure at the right place. No dryer though....

I only have two power settings: HIGH and HIGHER  :lol: I like the idea of the chuck...
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline krv3000

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2013, 02:43:33 PM »
well dun as per john :thumbup: :thumbup:

Offline doubleboost

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2013, 12:59:10 PM »
[ Invalid YouTube link ]

Offline awemawson

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #6 on: December 13, 2013, 01:34:00 PM »
Another great video - hey I like that shade 5 face shield, who stock those then?

Andrew
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline doubleboost

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Offline kayz1

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #8 on: December 13, 2013, 04:18:31 PM »
Another great video John, thanks...you have just cut up what would be my whole months supply of metals :dremel: :clap:
  Lyn.


PS: John.. is the spindle assembly on the 626 easy to pull apart and refit?

Ta. Lyn.

Offline doubleboost

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #9 on: December 13, 2013, 04:30:03 PM »
Hi
Lyn
R-Tech supplied the metal that I cut up
The spindle is a straight forward job (I think I have some pictures )
The bearings in mine were very good but the grease was shite
John

Offline awemawson

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #10 on: December 13, 2013, 05:20:11 PM »
Thanks for the link John, I've ordered the mask.

Andrew
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East Sussex

Offline BillTodd

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #11 on: December 13, 2013, 07:17:49 PM »
John, don't go paying for that cutter . You've earned it ;)

(Honestly, i had more expensive freebies after reviewing them :D)

Another great video, i was particularly taken by your neighbour's long johns - must get me self a pair8-)

Bill
Bill

Offline DaveH

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #12 on: December 13, 2013, 08:04:20 PM »
Thanks for the link John, I've ordered the mask.

Andrew

Andrew,
You have ordered a mask from a company that states "doesn't post to South Africa" -seems a bit discriminant to me.  (Shame on you)
 :lol: :lol: :lol:
DaveH
(Ex Leicester, Thurmaston, Ashby De La Zouch.)

Offline S. Heslop

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #13 on: December 13, 2013, 08:08:12 PM »
That thing does look handy. Especially with the circle cutter.

How would it fare cutting things with a non flat surface? Like castings or extrusions.


Oh by the way the video didn't turn up in my youtube feed. Maybe it's something wigging out on my end but you might've forgot to send it to subscribers.

Offline AdeV

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #14 on: December 13, 2013, 09:36:21 PM »
How would it fare cutting things with a non flat surface? Like castings or extrusions.

I used mine to cut the rusty frozen nuts off a bunch of studs (hmm, now there's a sentence that could be misinterpreted  :bugeye:) that were holding a cast iron exhaust manifold on. Managed to do it with minimal damage to the manifold, although the plasma would cheerfully cut that I'm sure.
Cheers!
Ade.
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Offline awemawson

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #15 on: December 14, 2013, 04:09:41 AM »
Thanks for the link John, I've ordered the mask.

Andrew

Andrew,
You have ordered a mask from a company that states "doesn't post to South Africa" -seems a bit discriminant to me.  (Shame on you)
 :lol: :lol: :lol:
DaveH

Well just maybe they have their reasons  :lol:

Andrew
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline DaveH

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #16 on: December 14, 2013, 07:13:18 AM »
Thanks for the link John, I've ordered the mask.

Andrew

Andrew,
You have ordered a mask from a company that states "doesn't post to South Africa" -seems a bit discriminant to me.  (Shame on you)
 :lol: :lol: :lol:
DaveH

Well just maybe they have their reasons  :lol:

Andrew

Someone here must have upset them - it wasn't me  :lol:
 :beer:
DaveH
(Ex Leicester, Thurmaston, Ashby De La Zouch.)

Offline Meldonmech

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #17 on: December 15, 2013, 04:06:51 AM »
Hi John

                        Very well presented, that is a very attractive piece of equipment, already beginning to covet it.

                                                                               Cheers David

Offline Dawai

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #18 on: December 31, 2013, 01:44:13 PM »
Neat. ,much more powerful than my $300 chinese one. CONSUMABLES thou are $40 for 250pc set for mine, was more before I put the CHEAP chinese torch on it. THE miller I had I could not afford them, I'd use a saw.
  TORCHES change out if you get tired of the "best ones" in yours and want to be cheap. it is either a 7 wire, or a 2 control wire torch.

Pattern cutting, 2'x2' barrel sized cutter table is perfect for a small shop, Mine started out as a torch. now a plasma pattern. Now on a roll-about table instead of a barrel to catch the sparks. (sparks and metal dust are on floor now)

I have a $100 cnc attachment for it drew up , will share when it works out into reality.

Adjustable Manual circles with swivel, ball bearing "drawer sliders for saw cuts". I used to clamp a ruler on the pattern arm and trace it.. I normally just drag cut beside a ruler if I am in a hurry..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsgmJW2uX7s The circle cutter in action with close up of radius adjustor.. a simple cantilever swivel, the most important thing is to have the torch center under the tracer center, have the whole shebang level so it stays the same height over the cutting table. Grate is just flooring from a mezzaline floor. A drop, left over piece.

BY the way, I have no respirator?? my iron content of my blood has been off the chart since I have been cutting with my plasma???? WTF??
I Hung a 24 foot Ibeam this morning in the ceiling by myself, programmed a Arduino this afternoon for a solar project, Helped a buddy out with a electrical motor connection issue on the phone, then cut up a chicken for Hotwings. I'd say it has been a "blessed day" for myself and all those around me.

Offline JD

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #19 on: February 06, 2014, 04:52:06 PM »
John,
I have been watching your videos with interest, this thread has come at the wright time.
I am about to buy a plasma cutter, just one question, have Plasma cutters with built in compressors got an advantage (apart form the obvious as having its own air supply) over the cutters without.
John W
If you cant fix it hit it with a bigger hammer

Offline doubleboost

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #20 on: February 06, 2014, 05:45:28 PM »
Hi
John
You have hit the nail on the head
Having its own air supply makes it truly portable
This is the only possible advantage
John

Offline jb3cx

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #21 on: February 06, 2014, 06:17:54 PM »
I think the other way to look at it is if you have a self contained unit  comp /plasma ,if one goes tits up
And has to be repaired,the whole unit has to go,so no comp /or plasma .
Worth thinking about !

Offline trevoratxtal

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #22 on: February 07, 2014, 02:13:53 AM »
ref "Plasma cutters with built in compressors"
Self contained compressor makes it portable.
My Son in Law a Lloyds Reg Welder was able to do work quickly and cleanly on large boats while afloat using the ships generators only.
He maintains the built in one are perfect for mobility, but prefers the more standard one for shop use.
Trev

Offline Pete W.

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #23 on: February 07, 2014, 04:47:14 AM »
Hi there, John,

That's a very impressive and useful machine.

Have you tried it on cast iron? 
Best regards,

Pete W.

If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, you haven't seen the latest design change-note!

Offline Fredbare

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #24 on: February 07, 2014, 04:52:59 PM »
Nice one John, keep em coming.

John

Offline shipto

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #25 on: February 07, 2014, 05:43:00 PM »
I will chip in my little bit of experience with plasma cutters re built in compressors.
I convinced my bosses to invest in plasma and do away with the oxy-acetylene equipment, so first off we brought a draggun 35c? and it was fine except it used a lot of consumables and I noticed when it was starting there was plenty of moisture in the air flow probably imho the reason it used consumables so much.
now we have a cutmaster ?? which requires a seperate air supply and right away I noticed much (by a long way) longer consumable life and even a slightly better cut but that could be down to it being a tad more powerful than the draggun, not that I ever used either to the limits of their capabilities.
So even though you would get better portability from a self contained unit I think it comes with a cost.
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Offline JD

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #26 on: February 07, 2014, 06:22:24 PM »
Thanks for your quick reply's
John,
portability's not really necessary, so compressor less will save a few green beer tokens I suppose.

jb3cx,
I think whether it has an on board/separate compressor you are still going to have the same problem if one of the functions goes belly up you wont be able to use the cutter.   

Pete W,
I haven't bought a machine yet just testing the waters.

shipto,
that's interesting could it have been that the on board filter was not big enough, that is worth taking into consideration when I buy my machine.

Thanks John W
 
If you cant fix it hit it with a bigger hammer

Offline mfletch

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #27 on: February 08, 2014, 12:43:55 PM »
Clean air is essential with plasma cutters I use 2 filters as far away from the compressor as possible; I would go for a plasma cutter and separate compressor, not as portable but think the plasma cutter would be better quality plus you can use air tools as well  :scratch:

Offline JD

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Re: Plasma Cutter
« Reply #28 on: February 08, 2014, 06:23:23 PM »
mfletch,
             Seems consumables suffer from moisture so with shipto and your hands on experience I think I will go with a separate compressor, my air system already has 2 filters so would be easy to add another for the plasma cutter.
John W
If you cant fix it hit it with a bigger hammer