I'm ready to take the plunge and get a plasma cutter. I would like to get something that would be able to easily handle 3/8th and occasionally thicker. Power may be a concern. My garage is wired for 220V 30 Amps. I probably could run a larger outlet if needed. I also have a 15,000 watt generator with a 50 Amp 220v outlet which I figure I could use. My questions
- If I get more unit ( greater thickness capability ) than I need, can I run it at lower amps out of my 220v outlet for the thinner stuff. I notice on some specs, they rate them at specific currents such as 20 and 40 amps. I would think they would be infinitely variable within a range. Is this true?
- One of the projects I would like to do would require 1/2 to 1 inch holes in 3/8 stainless plate. I do not have the equipment to do this otherwise. Can the plasma cutter do this. I mean can it do a hole in the middle of a plate or does it need a free edge to start at?
- Any brand recommendations? I see prior posts seem to like the Hypertherm products such as the powermax 600. Do people still feel this way or are ther better. Price is not really a limiting factor within reason. Any other recommendations. Should I get a bigger unit so it is less loaded on the thinner stuff ( assuming I can run it as noted in question 1)?
- Are they OK to run off generators?
Thanks
Barry