Choosing a Plasma Cutter to Hire

Choose from the normal recommended cut capacity, not only the headline severance figure.

Clean cut, severance and pierce

• Recommended or clean-cut capacity is the practical thickness for acceptable speed and edge quality.
• Severance is the maximum thickness the system can separate slowly; it is not the ideal everyday working thickness.
• Pierce capacity can be lower than edge-start cutting capacity and matters for mechanised or internal starts.
• Allow capacity for coatings, poor air, voltage drop, extended duty and the edge quality the job requires.

Plasma range at a glance

Air supply

The Powermax30 AIR includes its own compressor. Other plasma cutters require clean, dry compressed air at the pressure and flow stated by the manufacturer. Wet, oily or undersized air can damage consumables and reduce cut quality.

Hand cutting, gouging and mechanised use

• Hand cutting: confirm torch length, access and guide requirements.
• Gouging: confirm model, cartridge or consumable type and material-removal requirement.
• Mechanised cutting: confirm machine interface, torch type, table, height control and pierce requirement.
• Marking: available only on suitable systems and configurations.

Power and generator use

Confirm 110V, 230V or 415V, phase, socket and breaker. A plasma cutter can have high input and compressor loads. Generator operation must follow the manufacturer’s minimum continuous kVA and voltage-regulation guidance.

Questions we will ask

• Material type
• Normal and maximum thickness
• Clean cut, severance, gouging or marking
• Hand or mechanised use
• Available voltage and phase
• Compressed-air capacity and quality
• Torch length and access
• Hire dates and postcode