Powermax 65 or 85 Vs. Powermax 600

[Copp3r]

Jim,
first off, thanks VERY much for your earlier post / thread dealing with Powermax 600 and Duramax handles.

On a related note, I'm preparing to retire from my current profession and am in the process of building a new shop as well as upgrading some of my tools.

Currently, I have the Plasmacam DHC2 table running the older Powermax 600. For the most part the torch works fine, especially considering that the vast majority of the cuts are made on thinner gauge materials.

I guess the question I'm posing to you is this; if this was to be YOUR shop, YOUR part time business to bring in some extra money and with cash on hand while still considering being fiscally responsible, would you keep the 600, put on the Duramax torch or move up to the new 65 or 85?

As we all know, time is money and what I'm hoping is that the new systems are improved with regards to the dross created. Dross takes time to break down in a semi-acid bath... or time to grind / sand off ... or both. Do the new systems reduce the dross to any appreciable amount?

I'm kind of hovering on the fence at the moment...

Thanks in advance,

Copp3r / roger

[jimcolt]

Really depends on what you plan to cut...and how much.

The Powermax600 is a 40 amp power supply with a lower duty cycle rating as compared to the 65 and 85. If it was upgraded to the Duramax torch it would cut very similar to the 65/85 on materials up to 3/8", although at a 25% slower speed on that 3/8". Consumable life would be the same....but on hot days if you were cutting a lot of consecutive parts...you could exceed the duty cycle rating on the 600....it would then play dead for 4 or 5 minutes (fan running) and would allow cutting again. On materials under 1/4" the 600 would likely be very close to equaly toi the 65/85 systems.

The 65 would be productive and not have duty cycle issues up through 5/8", the 85 up through 3/4". I have pierced 1' with the 85 and 3/4" with the 65 with no noticeable issues with the coonsumables......I think the 600 could probably pierce 1/2" at a maximum.

So...if 90% of my work was 1/4" and thinner...I'd keep the 600. I would feel comfortable with the 600 occasionally cutting 3/8" and rarely 1/2". If I used the original torch on the 600...the ratings would be the same but I would expect lesser cut quality on all materials cut with the shielded 40 amp consumables....the Fine Cut parts would be very similar to the expectations for the 65 and 85. With the older torch...I would expect about 1/2 the consumable parts life as compared to the 600 with the Duramax torch.

I see less dross with the Duramax torch as compared to my older Powermax1000 (similar torch to the 600).


Jim Colt

Jim,
first off, thanks VERY much for your earlier post / thread dealing with Powermax 600 and Duramax handles.

On a related note, I'm preparing to retire from my current profession and am in the process of building a new shop as well as upgrading some of my tools.

Currently, I have the Plasmacam DHC2 table running the older Powermax 600. For the most part the torch works fine, especially considering that the vast majority of the cuts are made on thinner gauge materials.

I guess the question I'm posing to you is this; if this was to be YOUR shop, YOUR part time business to bring in some extra money and with cash on hand while still considering being fiscally responsible, would you keep the 600, put on the Duramax torch or move up to the new 65 or 85?

As we all know, time is money and what I'm hoping is that the new systems are improved with regards to the dross created. Dross takes time to break down in a semi-acid bath... or time to grind / sand off ... or both. Do the new systems reduce the dross to any appreciable amount?

I'm kind of hovering on the fence at the moment...

Thanks in advance,

Copp3r / roger

[Copp3r]

Wow. Jim, in a nut shell ... You're the best..! Thanks so much for your straight forward opinion and valued information.

I'd have to say you just saved me a couple of thousand dollars.


Regards,

Copp3r / roger