My Miller Bit the Dust...... Is Hypertherm the way forward?

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Well guys, I come with tragic news.... my good friend in Blue Mr. Miller 701 has died this evening in a firey and smokey accident of unknown causes....

Its sad because I bought Mr. Miller not more than 6 months ago from a local Miller dealer used. it had a 60 day warranty but since im not made of cash I bought it and put it in the garage until I saved up enough money to buy a table...

The really bad thing is that after tuning my machine, tonight was going to be my first paying job... what terrible timing.

So, here is my question.... Should I cross over to the Hypertherm side or stick with my boys in Blue... I have a lot of money is Miller gear but this being the second Miller that has lost its smoke... im considering.

I like what I have read on the internet from users of the Hypertherm and with my use being light to medium duty with a max steel cutting capability of up to 3/8" steel.... im looking for a recommendation....Ill need a machine torch also.

What should I get guys?

I hear they have a trade in program....

Rest in Peace Mr. Miller.... you were a good friend while you were around!

[JJsCustomDesigns]

I would say go hypertherm and dont look back. I love my 1250. Hasnt let me down yet. I hear the newer PM series are great machines.

[benval76]

I recently replaced my Miller Spectrum with the Powermax 45. My Miller gave me 8 yrs of near trouble free service. However, my personal opinion is that if you are looking for the better quality plasma it would be better to go with Hypertherm. Hence the reason I own 3 of them. I bought my Miller when I was just starting out. Although it worked very well for me, there is a noticeable difference between the two product lines. I would recommend the Hypertherm unit.

If you are looking for a good used machine, I have an older generation Hyperthem Powermax 900 that is in perfect working order. I have been considered selling it for quite some time now. I have two newer units that I use now (one for the table and the other around the shop), so I no longer need it. The hand torch was damaged by one of my employees some time back. It has been sitting on the shelf for almost a year now. This unit would require an upgrade to the newer duramax machine torch, available on the Hypertherm website. I can't remember for sure, but I believe it has a pierce capability of 3/4 inch. That may not be accurate but I believe that is right. Jim Colt would be able to tell you what it's cut capability would be with the upgraded torch. I guarantee the unit is is perfect working order, aside from the torch.

[I Lean]

Hypertherm--unless you can talk the Miller peeps into helping you out with warranteeing your out-of-coverage unit.

With your max cutting needs of 3/8", the Powermax 45 would be a perfect fit. If you get lucky, you might find a used one like I did. (but good luck....they'll only be available if someone is buying a larger Hypertherm)

[jimcolt]

I may be a bit biased...but yeah...Hypertherm! I agree with the other responders that the Powermax45 will be a good fit for your needs. The 45 is rarely found on the used market...even though there are about 60,000 of them in the field. The list price of new ones are in the $2300 range.....you will find online pricing in the $1600 and up range. I would suggest buying from a local distributor....better service and support, and often they can throw in some extras to sweeten the deal....they usually cannot match internet prices though.

If you have time to look for a used unit...there are a lot Of Hypertherm Powermax600's in the field (it was the predecessor for the 45....there are over 50,000 of them in the field)....watch Craigslist....I occasionally see them in the $1000 range in good shape.


Jim Colt Hypertherm

[jim8014]

We had two Hypertherms, great machines, and just as important, JIM COLT!

[large_time]

Thanks for the replies!

I dropped the Miller off at the shop to see if they would be able to cost effectively repair it or if they would cover it under warranty... fingers crossed.

The Hypertherm 45 was on sale in the shop and it was still 200+ dollars higher than online.... I did see that Hypertherm was offering a student discount if you were enrolled in a welding program... so that knocks off 200 bucks...

Patiently waiting to hear from the Miller dealer... Ill keep you guys posted.

Thanks again for the replies!

[large_time]

Soooo... the Miller is going to cost 875.00 in parts to fix plus labor....

Found a machine torched Hypertherm 45 for 2,366.00 delivered...

Will I need anything else to hook this up to my table? Or is it plug and play?

[benval76]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hypertherm-Powe ... d0&vxp=mtr

Ebay link to a Hypertherm 45 with mechanized torch. $2065 Free Shipping

[large_time]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hypertherm-Powe ... d0&vxp=mtr

Ebay link to a Hypertherm 45 with mechanized torch. $2065 Free Shipping

Sweetness... So many choices!

Thanks for the link!

[large_time]

So, I bought the Hypertherm 45 this morning with the machine torch!

2034.00 out the door at the local welding store. They gave me 250.00 for the burned up Miller.

Hopefully it gets here quick... I have the shop all cleaned up and a bunch of new steel ready to cut.

Thanks Mr. Colt, Your service to this and other site is the reason I purchad this baby!

Im confident it will give me years of trouble free service and line my pockets with cash!

Thanks again.... im off to research how the machine torch interfaces with my system.

I sure hope my torch holder will fit the machine torch... im hoping its an industrusty standard size.

[I Lean]

You won't regret it!

The machine torch is 1 3/8" diameter....should be standard size until you get into larger industrial-type cutters.

There is the CPC port (circular plastic connector) on the back, that's where you can hook in to fire the torch, and get your torch voltage readings.

[large_time]

You won't regret it!

The machine torch is 1 3/8" diameter....should be standard size until you get into larger industrial-type cutters.

There is the CPC port (circular plastic connector) on the back, that's where you can hook in to fire the torch, and get your torch voltage readings.

THANK YOU!

I can't wait to get it into the shop!

[jimcolt]

Let me know what your cnc machine is and I'll help you out with the interface connections. And, thanks for purchasing the Hypertherm....from all of the employee owners!

Jim Colt

So, I bought the Hypertherm 45 this morning with the machine torch!

2034.00 out the door at the local welding store. They gave me 250.00 for the burned up Miller.

Hopefully it gets here quick... I have the shop all cleaned up and a bunch of new steel ready to cut.

Thanks Mr. Colt, Your service to this and other site is the reason I purchad this baby!

Im confident it will give me years of trouble free service and line my pockets with cash!

Thanks again.... im off to research how the machine torch interfaces with my system.

I sure hope my torch holder will fit the machine torch... im hoping its an industrusty standard size.

[large_time]

Jim, I have an older FastCut table, it has version 1 of FlashCut that I am running.

The controller that fires the torch has 2 connectors on it.... 2 wires.

Its an X and Y table only.... I may be upgrading to something with height control if things go well.

The little black box is on the left in the pic.

Thanks again!

Let me know what your cnc machine is and I'll help you out with the interface connections. And, thanks for purchasing the Hypertherm....from all of the employee owners!

Jim Colt

So, I bought the Hypertherm 45 this morning with the machine torch!

2034.00 out the door at the local welding store. They gave me 250.00 for the burned up Miller.

Hopefully it gets here quick... I have the shop all cleaned up and a bunch of new steel ready to cut.

Thanks Mr. Colt, Your service to this and other site is the reason I purchad this baby!

Im confident it will give me years of trouble free service and line my pockets with cash!

Thanks again.... im off to research how the machine torch interfaces with my system.

I sure hope my torch holder will fit the machine torch... im hoping its an industrusty standard size.

[jimcolt]

Pins 3 and 4 on the CPC interface connector on the rear panel of the Powermax 45 are the plasma start input. Simply wire them to the "Plasma" connections on the back of the FlashCut control box. They are not polarity dependant...to find pins 3 and 4.....a magnifying glass will hlp you see the numbers right next to the pins. The pinout id also shown in your Powermax45 operators manual in the machine interface connections section. If you have any issues....contact my direct mail jim.colt@hypertherm.com and I can more easily provide info.

The Flashut box as an internal relay that will connect the start input (pin 3 to pin 4)....which will start the plasma, and will open that sam connection to stop it.

Hope this helps, Jim Colt

Jim, I have an older FastCut table, it has version 1 of FlashCut that I am running.

The controller that fires the torch has 2 connectors on it.... 2 wires.

Its an X and Y table only.... I may be upgrading to something with height control if things go well.

The little black box is on the left in the pic.

Thanks again!

Let me know what your cnc machine is and I'll help you out with the interface connections. And, thanks for purchasing the Hypertherm....from all of the employee owners!

Jim Colt

So, I bought the Hypertherm 45 this morning with the machine torch!

2034.00 out the door at the local welding store. They gave me 250.00 for the burned up Miller.

Hopefully it gets here quick... I have the shop all cleaned up and a bunch of new steel ready to cut.

Thanks Mr. Colt, Your service to this and other site is the reason I purchad this baby!

Im confident it will give me years of trouble free service and line my pockets with cash!

Thanks again.... im off to research how the machine torch interfaces with my system.

I sure hope my torch holder will fit the machine torch... im hoping its an industrusty standard size.

[large_time]

Thanks! I'm hoping to have it in hand by Friday or Monday! I'm excited to cut a few paying jobs!

Thanks for the reply, I downloaded all of the important pages from the manual and laminated them for use in the shop.

Let me know what your cnc machine is and I'll help you out with the interface connections. And, thanks for purchasing the Hypertherm....from all of the employee owners!

Jim Colt

So, I bought the Hypertherm 45 this morning with the machine torch!

2034.00 out the door at the local welding store. They gave me 250.00 for the burned up Miller.

Hopefully it gets here quick... I have the shop all cleaned up and a bunch of new steel ready to cut.

Thanks Mr. Colt, Your service to this and other site is the reason I purchad this baby!

Im confident it will give me years of trouble free service and line my pockets with cash!

Thanks again.... im off to research how the machine torch interfaces with my system.

I sure hope my torch holder will fit the machine torch... im hoping its an industrusty standard size.

[/quote][/quote]

[large_time]

Well,

My brand new Hypertherm 45 is in the garage, all unpacked and almost ready to rock.

I still have to look in town for some sort of push pin connector that can go into slots 3 and 4 so my Flashcut signal generator and kick it on and off. Searching around for the internet for a D-Sub connector was not really helpful and I dont want to slice the wires or splice the wires on my remote control box.

So, I am going to get to Radio Shack tomorrow and dig through their stuff and find something that will connect up.

Anybody know exactly what I need to get?

I ordered a new air compressor and have a new home for it with a brand new 220 plug.... I am really wanting to try this baby out but I want to do it right.

I will say that the machine torch looks cool as heck in the tables mount.

I must say that I can't think of a responsible reason to have a switch to fire the machine torch that can be operated by a user.... All I can come up with is for testing or for starting the torch and using the jog function to make cuts..... I can see myself now, holding the machine torch in one hand and activating it with my other hand.... maybe I should just get rid of that thing so I am not tempted!

Jim, if you read this I would love to see some pics of the factory and some of the Americans that made my machine. I really appreciated all the literature that came with this machine, a CD, booklet, quick guide and spiral bound owners manual.

Very impressed, and I could tell that someone used it before it was shipped, it had marks on the machine torch (very small), I thought it was cool that someone actually mounted the machine torch to ensure it worked properly before boxing it up and sending it my way.

I am very much looking forward to learning to use it properly and hopefully make a little productive business with it.