Thread: Workzone Plasma Cutter

Originally Posted by bob ward

Just had a look at the Aldi catalogue, the plasma has a duty cycle of 15% which would have to be one of the lowest I've seen.

Well there you go.

The other thing about the duty cycle stated for budget PCs is their blurb might state the duty cycle is 60% but they won't always mention at what current.

Originally Posted by BobL

Well there you go.

The other thing about the duty cycle stated fr budget PC is their blurb might state the duty cycle is 60% but they won't always mention at what current.

Rossi mention their current.

Duty cycle is 15% at 35 amps, and it will cut 10mm, that's from the catalogue.
I imagine Aldi are being scrupulously honest about the performance of what they are selling. A big company is always a target, they don't want to be caught out over-hyping. They will leave that to the internet floggers of Cut 40s etc.

I reckon that if I thought I actually needed to cut 10mm plate or use the thing more than very occasionally, I'd buy the Magnum Welders 50A unit.

Some Aldi tools I've gotten good service from (variable speed angle grinders for example) but something like a plasma cutter? Wouldn't risk it.

I've had a 50A generic unit for 10 years now, it's cut heaps of plate with its PT31 torch but if I need to cut 10mm or above I use the eBay special Rossmark 120A cutter. Lot less hassle, lot faster cut. I think it cost me about the same as the 50A unit did 10 years earlier.

The other question in my mind about the Aldi one is, what consumables does it use?

PDW

The post doesn't make sense: you wouldn't buy a cheap cutter from Aldi, but you bought a cheap cutter on ebay years ago and cut heaps of plate with it???

The Magnum P/C are anything but cheap and generic. They sport much better internals and carry a 5 year warranty. No relation, just a VERY happy customer.
And the one experience with ROSSI and their after sales service I will NEVER recommend or buy another.......

Did someone say Magnum PCs were cheap? Must have missed that one!

Tempting as a cheap Plasma might be, I think I will stick with my Hypertherm PM45

Cheers Andrew

Originally Posted by onanonanon

The post doesn't make sense: you wouldn't buy a cheap cutter from Aldi, but you bought a cheap cutter on ebay years ago and cut heaps of plate with it???

Heaps of 4mm plate for a boat using the ubiquitous Cut 50 unit. Fair bit of 6mm, not much over that, I have oxy-LPG for thicker stuff. Stainless was a problem, the 50A unit wouldn't cut 12mm 316 in any sort of reasonable fashion. Did a beautiful job on 6mm and below.

15% duty cycle is a joke unless you're just cutting sheet metal. I rarely cut anything thinner than 3mm so the duty cycle matters.

You also need a reasonable compressor and a good big water trap or your tip life is going to be absolute crap.

Do as you please, I don't care.

PDW

Originally Posted by AJ.

Tempting as a cheap Plasma might be, I think I will stick with my Hypertherm PM45

Cheers Andrew

Yes, them & Thermal Dynamics are way better than the Chinese ones. Pity they're 6X the price or I'd have bought one. My 3 phase Rossmark seems to work very well though, uses the Panasonic P80 torch. I was using it 2 days ago to cut some 12mm flat bar.

PDW