Plasma cutter — Hypertherm Powermax30 Air
Handheld plasma cutter for steel, stainless, aluminium, brass and other conductive metals. Built-in compressor, so no air supply needed.
Hypertherm Powermax30 Air
Location | |
Access | Welding course required |
Capacity | Fine cut 8 mm steel at 500 mm/min; severs 16 mm at 125 mm/min |
Owner | Stockholm Makerspace |
Help | Slack #svetsrummet |
Materials
Rust can stay, but remove oil and paint first because of fire and fumes.
Use a DIN 5 helmet (see Welding room).
Settings
Current is the only setting (15–30 A). As a guide, use half for 3 mm steel and maximum for 10 mm steel.
How to use
Earth the work with the correct earth connection, close to the cut but not on the offcut. Always earth it, even though the torch also fires without an earth.
Press the green button to switch on.
Cut in one continuous motion. Hold the torch vertical, and pulling it towards you is easiest.
Right speed: sparks blow back 15–30°.
Too fast: sparks go further back or upwards, which wears the nozzle.
Too slow: wide, ragged cut with more dross.
Guide the cut freehand, along a straight edge, or with laser-cut wooden templates. Templates char, so go carefully.
Knock or break off the dross.
Cool down: wait until the fan has stopped before unplugging. Don't use the rear power switch. The machine switches itself off after 10 minutes of inactivity.
Changing consumables
The yellow light means a consumable needs replacing. Spares are in the red cabinet.
Plasma cutter consumables
Leave the machine for 10 minutes so it switches off.
Unscrew the retaining cap and push the consumables out.
Replace the nozzle first. Replace the electrode if its pit is deeper than 1.6 mm. If the yellow light stays on, also replace the swirl ring. Discard the old parts.
Fit them in order nozzle, swirl ring, electrode. Tighten the cap by hand only.
Specifications
Current | 15–30 A |
Duty cycle | 35 % at 30 A |
Air | Built-in compressor |