Plasma Cutting and Gouging in Remote Areas

The Freedom 38 PPA™ from Hypertherm Inc. (Hanover, NH) is a completely autonomous, all-in-one unit that combines a powerful 125-amp plasma system with a generator and air compressor for cutting and gouging in areas without access to electricity. The company also offers the Powermax30® AIR that features a 30 amp plasma system and air compressor in one compact unit for ultimate portability.

Hypertherm also offers the Centricut brand quick-change torch for use with ESAB plasma cutting systems. The torch, which incorporates proprietary Hypertherm technology, is designed to replace ESAB PT-36, PT-600, and PT-19XLS torches. It will perform as well as the original ESAB single piece torch design, while increasing productivity. The two-piece quick-change design allows operators to change out consumables up to three times faster or, through the use of multiple torch heads, load consumables for the next job while cutting the current job. Operators can also experience a lower overall operating cost by using Centricut brand consumables with either the new quick change torch, or their current ESAB single piece torch. In field testing, cut quality and consumable life from the Centricut brand consumables were consistently equal to the OEM while costing 20 percent to 30 percent less.

The performance is due in part to the patented SilverLine electrode and CoolFlow nozzle technologies. SilverLine technology features a hybrid copper / silver weld joint that delivers performance equal to a solid silver electrode for a fraction of the cost. Advanced cooling features reduce the operating temperature of the electrode maximizing the hafnium pit depth and slowing its wear rate to extend electrode life. CoolFlow technology improves cooling to help maintain the size and shape of the nozzle orifice for longer life.

“This new torch provides owners of ESAB systems with the time-saving benefits of quick-change technology at a very affordable price,” explains Cynthia von Recklinghausen, the product marketing manager for the Centricut brand. “On top of that, ESAB owners can realize further cost savings while enjoying improved cut quality and consumable life by coupling the use of their torch with Centricut consumables.” Centricut products are designed with critical-to-function tolerances and are precision manufactured by advanced machinists to deliver the best quality product every time.

Hypertherm also offers SilverPlus® electrodes for their HySpeed® HSD130 plasma cutting systems. This electrode is proven to last more than twice as long as a standard copper tipped electrode. The electrode delivers a very consistent range 4 and 5 cut quality throughout its life, helping HySpeed plasma owners lower their operating cost and enjoy improved cut quality. The electrodes, protected by patent, are created by fusing a solid silver tip on to a copper electrode base and then inserting a hafnium pin into the tip. This serves to dramatically slow the electrode’s wear rate as silver disperses heat better than copper. These electrodes are further differentiated by a superior bond between the hafnium and silver for more consistent wear rates, deeper pit depths, and more robustness to ramp down errors and hard failures.

“HySpeed plasma system owners can reduce their overall operating cost through the purchase of fewer electrodes and even nozzles, as the increased electrode life also translates into double the nozzle life,” says Martin Geheran, a consumables product manager at Hypertherm.

Hypertherm Inc., PO Box 5010, Hanover, NH 03755-3124, 603-643-3441, www.hypertherm.com.