Poor boy Plasma cutter

[cap-n-cray]

Did you get it?

Matt,



Did you ever get a plasma cutter? I am looking long and hard at the Miller Cutmate 375. I have three other Miller welders and like them.



Cary

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Sorry....

My bad!



I got a Hypertherm PowerMax 380.



I absolutely love it - can't say enough good things about it.



If you need more info - let me know... . I did a LOT of research.



Matt

 

[cap-n-cray]

Matt,



Why did you choose a Hypertherm PowerMax 380? Did you look at the Miller Cutmate 375?



Thanks,



Cary

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I chose the Hypertherm for a few reasons.



1. - I got a great deal on a refurbished Hypertherm.



2. - Consumables cost and replacement frequency. Hypertherm claims up to 600 starts - competitors can get to 50% of that if they are lucky. Real world experience from other folks has shown that the Hypertherm rules the consumables life world. Since consumables make or break the machine - I'd rather have a machine that has technology to extend their life. Getting replacements is also a breeze - my welding supply shop keeps them in stock all the time.



3. - The PowerMax 380 runs on 115V or 230V - handy option



4. - Hypertherm is right up in New Hampshire and is a small one-focus company - all they do is plasma cutters. Miller has their hands on a lot of products and is part of a HUGE conglomerate.



5. - The PowerMax 380 is a favorite amongst metal fab folks all over the place - all I had to do is ask around and LOTS of people had nothing but good things to say about it.



I'm very happy with it and wouldn't shy away from convincing anyone else from picking one up.



My only regret is being too poor to afford a 2" machine. haha :-laf



Matt

 

[Agades]

how thick have you cut with it?

how much clean up on cuts?



any slag left behind?



Im looking for a unit to run off my portable machine (up to 1/4 " quality cuts)

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I have cut 3/8" mild steel plate with it and the cut quality is just like in the brochures... . cut rate is also very impressive for this size machine.



It does leave behind slag - but my air supply isn't that great. The slag comes off with one quick stab of a hammer - then it's clean and straight as can be.



Matt

 

[cap-n-cray]

Matt,



I was out looking at plasma cutters today and found out the Miller 375 Cutmate is made by Hypertherm. It is the same as the Powermax 380. The case and handle are different, but the guts are the same.



I will probable buy the Miller so it matches my other blue welders. I have not found the refurbished deal.



Thanks for your input.



Cary

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Where did you get that info? I'd hate to see a salesman blow smoke up your wazoo... .



Does the Miller unit use the same consumables/torch, etc?



Matt

 

[cap-n-cray]

Yes, a salesman did tell me, but if you look at the two units side by side. They are basically the same. All the controls are in the same place with the same markings. I was also told that the consumables were different. I think they are the same too. The torch handles look identical except the Miller is a ICE-27C and the Powermax 380 is a PAC110T. Even the place and size of the label is the same. The gauges are identical.



The salesman was pushing the Hypertherm. I said I wanted to see the Miller (which I did at another store next to a Hypertherm). He said the Miller 375 was the same as the Powermax 380 and was made by Hypertherm.



Cary

 

[HoleshotHolset]

If the consumables are truely different - then the torch is different. So basically you aren't getting the increased consumable life advantage out of the superior Hypertherm technology..... (Man, does that sound like a sales pitch, or what!)



They could be telling you the consumables are different - just so that Miller recognizes some revenue on consumables, even though they might be the same for both units.



I personally don't like buying stuff that I know is other people's stuff just rebadged. This to me, shows that the company is just out there to make a buck at a certain price point. They obviously know that they can't beat Hypertherm's comparable model (as far as price point, capabilities... ) - so they buy that model, change some stuff around, rebadge it and sell it as their own brand.



That to me is basic admission that their competitor has what they wish they had.



If it were me, Miller blue or not..... the true Hypertherm is the only way to fly.



I'm a true blue (pun intended... ) Miller guy... . but this scheme is not something I'd be willing to participate in.



Matt

 

[cap-n-cray]

Matt,



I ordered the Miller, because of the 3 year warranty and it came with free stuff. I agree with you that it is better to go with the designer, original manufacturer. It would be like Dodge make the Cummins engine at a Dodge plant. They would cut corners even more.



When I mail ordered the machine, the salesman said that he had been to the Miller plant and saw the manufacturing line making them. Hypertherm must licence the design to Miller. I think it may be more like Caterpillar making a Cummins design engine. At least I hope so. I know Porsche does a lot of design work for other companies.



It will be a good road test if we kept in touch and see which machine performs best. Uses less consumables. I'll find out if the torch consumables are the same and which cost less.



Cary

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I don't use mine all that much - especially lately. I haven't used it in about 2-weeks. I'm already starting to have withdrawel anxiety... .



I'm on my first set of consumables. The machine came with a used set and I figured I'd change them out just to see what would happen.



The plasma arc (if you want to call it that... . ) was a lot more precise and the cutting power increased quite a bit over the old consumables.



Keep us updated on the Miller, and I'll do the same for the Hypertherm.



Matt