Just picked up a used Hypertherm Powermax 1000 plasma cutter. Seems OK, price
was right, but the second the arc hits the steel - phhht! - off it shuts. LEDs
indicate a problem with incoming power. I'm running it from my phase converter,
since this model plasma cutter can run on multiple phases/voltages, and since it
draws a lot less current from 220 3 phase than from 220 single phase.
I'm going to wire the cord for a single phase plug and try it in my regular
welder outlet and see, but I'm wondering - do any of you guys run a 60A plasma
cutter off of a phase converter?
Grant
I run my 1250 off real 3 phase without a hitch. However I can see
where it would be sensitive to the incoming power (think VFD and how
sensitive they are to input) and not work off a rotary phase
converter. It's probably sensing the dropping voltage of the generated
phase and kicking off.
Some of the 3 phase equipment is fussy about the power on just a couple
of legs. You maight want to try doing some swapping of wires in the plug.
Wayne Cook wrote:
You might try rotating the phase wires
around one position. If it uses a single-
phase transformer, this might bring the
bulk of the load over to the line phase.
The input power goes from the cord to the power switch to the input of a
three phase bridge on those units. Straight to DC. It's a big switching
supply basically.
At 230-240V 1ph it draws 44A per leg, at 230-240V 3ph it draws 26A per
leg. I don't see a good reason to try to run it on "fake" 3ph if you
don't have "real" 3ph. It's not like a big welder pulling 100A per leg,
it's a kitchen range.
Pete C.
Is this the one that was posted on Craigslist in the Seattle area? I
almost jumped on that myself...let us know how you did when you get it
working well.
On a similar note....I need a little info from the real world rather
than literature on the higher amperage models of these hypertherms.
Eventually, I need to be able to CNC cut up to 3/4" (usually only 5/8")
T304 stainless including some piercing operations. I hated to underbuy
so passed on the one mentioned above due to hypertherm saying that it
needed an edge start for those thicknesses.
Any recommendations on models/amperage that'll do the thick stainless,
leave a cut that can be profile milled later without much trouble, and
won't have me buying more machine than I need?
For a while, I'd only be using it for hand cutting thinner gauges so
it'd be waaaaay overkill..however, would rather buy the right one to
start than buy twice.
Thanks,
Koz
Grant, I don't see why there is an advantage to running off of a three
phase converter (if you could). All you're doing is transferring the
single phase current that the plasma cutter would have drawn to the
single phase input of the phase converter--plus a little more current to
dissipate in the converter.
Go for the single phase. By the way, nice machine. I almost bought one,
but dropped back to the 650 in the end.
Steve
Grant Erw> Just picked up a used Hypertherm Powermax 1000 plasma cutter. Seems
Suggest calling Hypertherm and talking to an app engineer to select the
best unit. Hypertherm is pretty much the best so you'll want one of
their units anyway.
Pete C.
Yup, it's that one. I made him an offer and he bit. I was a little surprised. It
came with 34 extra electrodes and 29 extra nozzles and one extra guard and an
entire extra gun minus lead, torn down for parts, plus original manual and even
the receipt from when he bought it @ Praxair about 2 years ago.
Eric Snow wrote me today:
".. a Thermal Dynamics
Cutmaster 101. It claims to be able to cut 3/4" steel at 10 Inches per
minute. This claim is true. After testing both the Hypertherm and the
Thermal Dynamics the deciding factor was the start method and CNC
interface option. The TD uses some kind of capacitive start instead of
high frequency like the Hyper. This is helpful when connecting the
machine to a computer for CNC use. TD also sells a circuit board that
plugs into the machine which allows the computer to directly control
the amperage, start, and etc. And the torch cable is a quick-
disconnect so that the machine can be connected to a machine torch for
CNC use or the hand torch can be connected for manual use. My plan is
to eventually have a CNC plasma cutter set up."
If Hypertherm says the 1000 won't pierce 3/4" stainless, it probably won't.
Conversely, if they said it would, it *might* .. but it's unreal to think of
reverse specsmanship and them admitting it won't do something it will.
GWE
No, it isn't 60 amps of input power at 220 volts. On 220-3 power, the machine
draws 26 amps of input power. My phase converter supplies a genuine 30 amps at
220 volts - the idler is 7.5hp. Obviously the generated leg isn't clean enough,
because when I connected it today to single phase 220, the machine worked OK,
haven't yet had time to thoroughly check it out.
Grant Erwin
Hum -
How about getting a 3 phase transformer and use the core to provide
the surge currents. I have a 220 rotary and boost it upward with three
transformers
and 3 more bucking transformers to get the level I wanted.
One large core or three transformers.
Now for a buddy that has one to loan out - or a junk yard...
Martin
Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
NRA LOH & Endowment Member
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member
It is better to over size a plasma machine - the specs are rated for MILD steel.
I have been able to cut 1/2" 400 BHN armor plate with my 600, but with the new
head
that works with the next size up machine. So the 60 amp nozzle on a 40 amp
machine
seems to cut much better than a 40. I suspect it is an impedance issue - but
not sure.
Cutting SS - I do 304L and it cuts - but you need to cut with more current than
is
normally thought and at a faster movement. More current means hotter steel and
the further it will blow away before cooling. Less dross dripping on the bottom.
Martin
Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
NRA LOH & Endowment Member
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member
I have a CNC plasma machine - and we connect to all Hypertherm without issue.
A great number of machines function - a special cable is within.
Just having an interface board - sounds great - if you are doing your own - even
better.
Check with the CNC table people on the requirements - save your money.
Some machines require the interface - depends on the vendor.
Martin
Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
NRA LOH & Endowment Member
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member
Most of that info is incorrect. The Hypertherm Powermax 1000 does not
use HF to start the arc / plasma stream, it uses a blowback system. It
also comes standard with a CNC interface port (CPC type connector on the
back).
As for piercing 3/4" stainless, read the manual. I believe the issue
with piercing such thick material is not the piercing capability, but
rather nozzle and shield life. A CNC that provides "wiggle pierce" or
better still a tilt axis to pierce at an angle as you would by hand will
greatly reduce the problem.
Pete C.
There shouldn't be a problem with drooping voltage if the rotary phase
converter has appropriate capacitors; and if it is large enough for the load
like at least 1 1/2 times the HP drawn by the plasma cutter.
Bob Swinney
I'd say that the Powermax 1250 would be the right machine for you.
It's what I have and I'm extremely happy with it. The new torch they
have on the 1000 and above is the best torch I've ever used. It will
cut thin stock clean and quick and without changing anything go right
over and cut 1" stock just as clean (though not as quick). For CNC use
I wouldn't go any smaller especially if you're going to want to do
3/4". It's rated for 7/8" and though I've never tried on that
thickness I do know that it handles 1" pretty well if slowly.
I know it uses blowback on the normal start but it seems like it has
HF on when in gouge mode. I've not verified this but that's just the
way it acts to me.
Agreed. Piercing 3/4" thick is tough to do without messing something
up. My experience is that if you'll do a traveling pierce it works
better. When I was doing a lot of stainless work on a pattern torch
setup I just turned it on and then hit the trigger so that it pierced
while cutting. That worked much better than trying to stay in on
place. Staying in one place does several things including making a
mound of material on top which can get stuck to the nozzle shorting it
to the work.
Greetings Koz,
I bought the Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101 because it is slated for
CNC use eventually. It uses a capacitive start method instead of high
frequency. It is harder to shield computers from the high frequency
than 60 Hz. When the trigger is pulled the air runs for a bit and then
there is a kind of snap in the torch and the arc is established. Two
other features on the Cutmaster are the quick disconnect torch and the
option to plug in a circuit board that allows direct control of the
plasma cutter by the CNC control. Hypertherm may offer these options.
The one that I test drove at Central Welding, which they said was
comparable to the Thermal Dynamics 101, did not. Both machines cut
equally well when using the hand held torch. The quick disconnect
feature allows the hand torch to be used even after the machine is
connected to the CNC control.
Eric
Pete-I can only go by the machines that Central Welding gave me to
test. The Hypertherm one used high frequency, at least it acted like
the high frequency on my TIG welder, and I was told that it did. The
TD machine did not. Of course things change in a year.
ERS
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