Hey guys I just ordered a powerplasma 50 and kind of wanted to know how everyone liked theirs. Is there anything specific I should look for before start up? What kind of water traps are you guys using? Thanks in advance. Tim
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Hey guys I just ordered a powerplasma 50 and kind of wanted to know how everyone liked theirs. Is there anything specific I should look for before start up? What kind of water traps are you guys using? Thanks in advance. Tim
I wrote a review of the PP70 on this site. The machines are probably not that different.Quote:
Originally Posted by powercat
Watch for interior air line leaks. I replaced mine with nylon truck air brake lines and compression fittings. But if you don't hear any hissing leave well enough alone.
I'm using the Harbor Freight 3 foot long desiccant air dryer for around $40. The smaller inline ones seem to plug up the air flow. The shop's main compressor has a water trap and one should be included with your PP50 that attaches on the back if it is like the PP70. Others may know more about the PP50.
to answer some questions from your PM: consumables; the consumables that came with the torch cut very good but did not last that great. I got trafimet brand from fastenal, they seem to last better but I feel they won't cut as thick. I need to take some measurements to compare the orifice size. I haven't tried the everlast replacement consumables.
The replacement consumables will outcut/last the trafimet on the newer ones.
The consumables that are supplied with your Torch areTrafimet Consumables.Quote:
Originally Posted by cmd
You can verify this by lookig for the T in a circle on your tips.
We do find our house Brand Consumables to be better than the Trafimet .
Cheers
fastenal has consumables? Thats great, I have a fastenal store right down the road. It's good to know that I'm limited to the internet for consumables. I knew harbor freight carries them but thats a 45 minute drive. Thanks for the info guys.
Not an official company endorsement of these brands mind you....but...
There are a few other places you might be able to get them off the shelf for the s-45 torch. I think it might be a special order from Fastenal, at least the one here.
Hobart distributors. The new large hobart unit uses an s-45.
Northern Tools
Tractor Supply (hobart)
Tool Trucks (some of them sold equipment with s-45)
Harbor Freight
Anyone care to add to the list?
well indeed they are. I never looked to see until now. after some checking, you can get these consumables in 0.6mm or i assume 0.8 mm orifice. the ones fastenal got me was the smaller. the ones that were included are labeled 0.9 mm on their sideQuote:
Originally Posted by Titan winch
If Hobart's plasma uses the s45 torch then the Attwoods here should have consumables. I will have to check after the pp 50 gets here.
I dont have any plasma cutter at this time. I was just kinda curious how clean they cut? they look like a sawed edge or what. A lot of things I could use it for. Thanks
The quality of the cut will depend on a number of factors. Material type ,thickness , machine set up and lastly your cutting ability. I can cut most material with my PP50 and have a very smooth edge with little to no dross. Plasma is capabale of amazing cut quality especially if used with a cnc table.
Farmer pretty much covered it all. The "cutting ability" helps the most, lots of practice. Fast cuts will leave little or no dross. Good steady hand is also key. You will be amazed at how good they cut when done right.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikola Tesla
I used mine extensively today. If you use the roller guide and a straight edge it almost looks like you cut it with a saw. Very cool!
im still waiting to place my order for a plasma cutter. at least i did get my powe arc 160
btw anybody use their PP50 on 1" or thicker steel yet?
Duncan, Mark and I have all cut 1" with the Power Plasma 50.Quote:
Originally Posted by yotarover
Yota,
While it will do 1" it is not recommended for continuous use at that thickness. I hope that is not what you were intending. If it is then you need an 80 amp.
And old rule of thumb for plasma cutting. If it's a 50 amp unit (or at 50 amps), it will cut .50 inch. If a 75 amp, it will do .75 (3/4) inch. Put a decimal point in front of the amps. Though the answer to you question is still yes, it can cut up to 1 inch but you will be pushing the unit.
Yes I have cut 1” with my PP50 but only 30 or 35 pieces of round stock. I needed to get them close to size to put them in the lathe, and the band saw blade broke. So like all people with the good scene, God gave a monkey. I broke out the new PP50 and went to it, while the cuts were not clean they were much better than I expected. This machine for me excels in the ½” and under, cuts 5/8” to clean up spec and good severance at 1”. I mostly cut 3/8”, ½” and sheet gauge material and it does a great job for that.Quote:
Originally Posted by yotarover
And yes I had new band saw blades but you know how it is to have a new toy to put through the paces.
is that same for any type of metal?
Yes this tends to hold true for most metals. I make the blood bag molds for Baxter Health, and they require that the wore plates be destroyed. I use the PP50 to cut them up one half is ¾ copper and the other is ¾ brass. I have also cut zinc plates ( but do not cut it without a fume extractor ) stainless, tool steel, mild steel and aluminum of various grades and for the most part the machine cuts them all with ease.Quote:
Originally Posted by dgarnier
There are some differences in all metals that affect the cut rate and quality. Thickness, metal composition, condition of the cut surface ( rust, paint, ect ). Is the work piece one solid piece or is it laminated ( or multi pieces ), is it cast? The electrical conductivity of the work piece and thermal properties also play a role in the cut ability of different metals.
I cannot speak of some of the more exotic of metals because I don’t work with some of them and therefore do not know all the in and outs of them.
I think I will try to put together a video series of the PP50 in action with all the different tricks I have learned over the years. It may help someone to skip some pitfalls of cutting with a plasma cutter verses a torch.