When you’re ready to purchase your first plasma cutter, you should consider a number of factors, including its input power requirements, versatility, user-friendliness, and price. In this blog post, our team at Cyrious Metal Works draws on extensive experience with hypotherm plasma cutters to help you choose the best plasma cutter for beginners. Let’s dive in. 

Consider the Output Power of the Plasma Cutter

When you understand a plasma cutter’s output power, you’ll know the metals it can cut. If you pick 120V equipment with an output power of 12 amps, you can easily cut most ? inch-thick metals. A 230V machine with an output power of 60 amps can handle most ? inch-thick metals. 

You can also opt for an inverter-based plasma cutter if you need more power without compromising portability. Such a machine will render a high cutting capacity yet weigh much less than conventional plasma cutters.

Check Your Preferred Machine’s Cutting Speed

Your workflow will help you choose a plasma cutter with the appropriate cutting speed, usually represented as Inches Per Minute.

Suppose you have two machines that can cut through an ½ inch-thick metal. Although they have the same cutting capacity, one might do the job in one minute and the other could need three minutes because of its slow cutting speed. 

For this reason, ensure you select a plasma cutter with the correct speed to be as productive as possible. 

The Duty Cycle of the Plasma Cutter Matters

Industry experts say you can’t ignore the duty cycle when choosing the best plasma cutter for beginners. It’s the amount of time the machine can run continuously within ten minutes before you let it cool off.

If you choose a plasma cutter with a five-minute duty cycle, you can operate it for five minutes and allow it to cool for five minutes. You may extend the duty cycle when running the machine at a lower power. Still, know that the duty cycle can shorten under too-hot conditions. 

You should pick a plasma cutter with a longer duty cycle for deep or long cuts. A short-duty cycle machine will be perfect for making small cuts at your home workshop. 

Consider Your Preferred Cut Quality

When shopping for the best plasma cutter for beginners, you certainly want something that delivers superior cut quality. Suppose you prefer clean, precise cuts. You can’t go wrong with a higher amperage plasma cutter. 

If you don’t mind rougher cuts, you can settle for a lower amperage machine and save a few bucks on your budget. You should also learn about operating a plasma cutter correctly to ensure high-quality cuts. 

Get in Touch for More Information About Plasma Cutters

When you need help choosing the best plasma cutter for beginners, Cyrious Metal Works is here to help you make an informed decision. You’ll even learn plasma-cutting safety tips so you can achieve top-quality results without accidents. Call us at (903) 329-2791 to schedule your free consultation on plasma cutting equipment today!