Miller plasma vs Hypertherm

[Wreckless]

Hey folks, yeah, I know there are quite a few threads on plasma cutters and I have read quite a few but wanted to take this in several directions. First off, I have been a true believer in the blue machines but my recent creation of a Miller 375 boat anchor due to a fried circuit board has got me grasping at straws as to what I need to replace it. Actually, it may as well be a boatless boat anchor as owning a boat is not necessarily a requirement to justifying tossing this to the bottom of a lake. Replacing the circuit board is 95% of a new machine so that option was out. First off, the short in the board came from my shop and myself due to grinding dust. My bad, I think. I was blowing the unit out periodically thru the vents, seemed like the correct thing to do tho I could find no info on doing this. I was told by the repair shop that a dismantling of the cover every 90 or so is more appropriate. As the machine does not have a quick release assembly set up, is this something others are doing? Being pretty much catastrophic to my budget, I cannot afford for this to happen again. Anyone else fry a circuit board or heard of it, be it this machine or other brands? Any tips on premium care from any of ya'll frequent users? On to my second thought... referring to the title of this thread, since I am shopping, any input into the longevity of these two brands? No ill feelings here toward the blue machines, just ill feelings in my gut to having to pony up for a new cutter and I need to get my next purchase correct. Any idea on size for a hypertherm? My 375 seems to run middle of the road when compared to the powermax 30 and 45. On to consumables... yeah, I could call around and have for comparison prices but due to several of my LWS places not even being on the same page price wise depending on what I am purchasing I.E Argon for the mig, mig tips, stick welding rods, etc, I figured it would be worth it to pose that question here. Being a budget shop aka working on a shoestring budget, I just need and would like all aspects of my new purchase covered as much as possible by my Ring brothers as we use these daily rather than some salesman. Any and all comment very much appreciated. Special note to a hard core O/A user here on the Ring, I have never ran out of plasma on a weekend after the LWS was closed. Thanks in advance folks.
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[animal]

You can get the board repaired by a 3rd party a lot cheaper than buying new.
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New Braunfels Offset
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[Wreckless]

[k.a.m.]

[Wreckless]

[k.a.m.]

Hahaha. will do my Brother.
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Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[GF]

Wreckless, glad ya'll got a hold of Mr. Murphy, he's been riding my a$$ for about 2 weeks, TX seems like a better place for him.(sorry Kevin).

On the plasma's, you could buy one of each and send me the one you don't like, I'll cover the shipping.

Good luck with it.

[Wreckless]

[GF]

Wreckless, I have very little knowledge on plasma's. I called a fitter buddy of mine and asked him, he said it wouldn't matter as long as he could get consumables localy and didn't have to order everything.

BTW, Murphy hasn't left Ct. yet.

[TrailerBuilder]

I have a Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 51 I think the "Cutmaster" was named after me and I love the machine. I do a skirt off cleaning on it maybe once a year, also on my Blue 250, I think Ill bump that up to twice a year now I love my plasma, it has been a great machine for everything I do with it. I have used a Miller 375 and it seemed to cut well for me. My buddy has a Hypertherm 30 and I have cut with it also, it doesn't seem to have the balls my Thermal Dynamics does IMO. My bud says he has used a 45 and wished he would have stepped up with the $$ and went that instead of a 30. He does cut a lot of 1/4" and 3/8" plate. Consumables for the 3 plasmas are fairly close in price range...all expensive. I found a seller on eBay that I buy the same tips in the same bags I get here from my supplier, but at almost 1/2 the price and with free shipping. There are always places to find the consumables cheaper online, but just keep in mind to keep extra on hand so you don't run out and have to buy the high priced ones at your supplier on Friday afternoon. Personally, I think whatever route you take, you will get a good machine. All 3 are good names and good products, Id look for the best deal and then weigh out the options

JM2CW


FWIW, if you do buy 2 and just keep 1, I think I should get dibs on it over George I mean we have been through so much together...Camp Vidor...Twin Pits...yada yada yada
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[GF]

Troy, if what you mean by "been through so much together" means you watched a brother burry his truck and then watched Kevin come-along it out, your right.

Now that you've thrown Thermal Dynamics into the mix, there could be two rejects.

Sorry for gettin off track on this.

[Wreckless]

[Wreckless]

[bigmike782]

Hypertherm Powermax 45.
I am a died in the wool Miller guy but when it comes to plasma Hypertherm leads the way.

[Maniac]

got a hyper at our shop at least 15 years beat the crap out of her . Besides consumables we put a new torch on her when one of the wires inside shorted...would buy another one when she dies
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20" disc
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[Bgcoop8784]

Can't speak of the hypertherms, but I like the miller spectrums. We had a miller spectrum 1251 that ran great for 5 or 6 years until the board fried also, but It's mounted on a CNC plasma cutter table and it runs 20-30 hours a week and a lot of it is non stop other than loading unloading the table. We replaced it with a spectrum 875 last year and haven't had a problem out of it yet.

[Dustin4185]

IMOP, I would go with Hypertherm. I have had both in an industrial setting (fab shop) and the Hypertherms seems to hold up longer. We have a LWS that sells and services both. We keep them covered when not in use and try to keep them as far away from the work as possible. I know it is a pain to pull leads/roll up leads, but it is worth it.

[pitbullinc]

I have a hypertherm that has held up great. I talked with all our fabricators at work to find their opinion. The thermal dynamics and hypertherm were the 2 favorites. part of their logic was they are both companies that only focus on plasma cutters. They mentioned the miller machines had some components made by hypertherm. I think it was the torches.

[morkdach]

I would go with Hypertherm over any other brand.
I am a service tech for all the name brands and know what makes them tick.
I would go BLUE on welders but the Powermax leads the way in plasmas.A new 30 will be avail soon if you need 120/240 volt input.