Plasma Torches for Obsolete Hypertherm

Replacement Plasma Torches for Obsolete Hypertherm HF Plasma Systems; Max 40, 70, 80, & 100

From the early 1970s through the late 1999's, Hypertherm manufactured a line of very reliable plasma cutting power supplies and plasma torches

Editorial Opinion

I used to see Hypertherm as the leader in plasma cutting technology. They made plasma power supplies, torches, and associated equipment. They won or lost on the designs of their machines and their technology. They did not have another cash cow business, such as filler metals or shielding gas. They concentrated on machines. Something has changed; I cannot find hard data, but somewhere around the early nineties, they have obsoleted and distanced themselves from the legacy machines. There are thousands of older Hypertherm systems that you can no longer support under OEM.

As an obsover lookin from the outside. I cannot see the interworkings; I can only see the effects on everyday life. They seemed to be distancing themselves from the distributor and end user.

Luckily for the user, their older power supplies are very robust. I never seen a transformer or power inductor fail. Relays, capacitors, contactors, and potentiometers were mostly "Off the shelf" common components. Most of of theri older circuit boards can still be repaired, if parts can be sourced.

1. Weldmart Alpha 2-HY1 replacement Plasma Torch for the Hypertherm Max 40

The original Hypertherm Max 40 was the leader in small-shop plasma-cutting systems. The original machines ran on nitrogen with a CO2 shielding gas. The machine hit the right market.

Rule of Thumb: To cut at production speed (hand cutting), you need 25 amps per 1/4 inch. This unit would easily cut a three-eighths-inch plate and sever a one-and-a-half-inch plate. The vast majority of steel production in the US is 1/2" or less.

When air cutting became popular, you just changed to air plasma electrodes and used shop air.

The power supplies were made with rugged transformers, inductors, rectifiers, and PC boards (that are repairable). I have never replaced a major component in a Max 40. Contactors and fan motors wear out but are available off the shelf. If you can find one, buy it and keep it the rest of your life.

The Hyperther Max 70

4. Miller Spectrum 100t Plasma Torch