IGBT vs MOSFET

[bobwills]

If I was to go with a plasma would IGBT or MOSFET be the better choice?

[Tritium]

IGBT!

Thurmond

[zoama]

IGBT

[bobwills]

So its worth the extra money to save up and get a IGBT even if I dont need it to be able to cut the thickness the bigger ones can handle.

[geezer]

So its worth the extra money to save up and get a IGBT even if I dont need it to be able to cut the thickness the bigger ones can handle.

Think of the extra money as buying the pilot arc feature which is handy at cutting mesh /expanded metal etc. and the IGbt has a good track record for reliability.

If I didn't have a plasma cutter or couldn't afford one, I would be happy to have the the best priced one regardless of mossfet or IGBT tech. Cutting meatl with O/A is old hat.

[Tritium]

So its worth the extra money to save up and get a IGBT even if I dont need it to be able to cut the thickness the bigger ones can handle.

As one who has had both units, MOSFET first then IGBT. YES!

Thurmond

[performance]

MOSFET = Snap, Crackle, and Pop.
IGBT = Cool Runnings.

[bobwills]

ok so this spawns my next question. I will probably go with IGBT if i get one just because ive read of some bad things about MOSFET too and i want the best chance of getting something that will have a good chance of lasting as long as possible. Ok so the smallest IGBT is the powerplasma 50. It has pilot arc. But it says it is also a blowback style torch. The powerplasma 60 has pilot arc and it also has high frequency. The price distance is $100 between the two. If i got one it would be one of these. My question is is it worth the extra 100 to get high frequency. I dont really know what difference it would make having it. From what i know it would suck not to have it but I dont really know. Thats why im asking on here lol. Any and all imput is much appreciated .

[performance]

I am not sure where the misinformation is coming from as I have heard this comment several times recently but HF is NOT desirable over blowback start.Bob, can you point me toward the source if you can remeber? I'd like to look into its origin. HF causes em interference and there is maintenance associated with the HF points. Blowback is exactly what Hypertherm, Milller, and Thermadyne use on their units under 100 amps.

[bobwills]

So that means it would be the best idea to go with the powerplasma 50. So if blowback is the best type of plasma then why is all but the powerplasma 50 a high frequency cutter?

[bobwills]

Ok so it would be better to go withe the powerplasma 50. And i think i know what the confusion with people on that is. all of your plasma cutters except the 50 are high frequency so people might think maybe thats not a good kind. Because i like to compare welders with the top few to see all the differences you get for going with smaller one. So if blowback is better than high frequency why are all but the powerplasma 50 a high frequency?

[performance]

Its a pricing issue. The blowback start torches cost more. Take for example the 60C...its an inductive start machine...uses same HF torch, but is more expensive to manufacture the interals.
If you read my comments above, I said other companies use it below 100 amps because over 100 amps they use HF not only because of the expense making a blow back torch that size would cost, but also due to the design, it is limited to size. We can have any of our units manufactured in blowback start. In fact we/ our factory have designs ready, that could use blow back starting, but due to the fact of the torch costing more money by a possibly a couple hundred dollars more, we have stuck with HF. Nothing wrong with it or inferior in a performance aspect, mind you they use them over 100 amps in other makes, but it does have its downside.

HF is not desirable only IF em disturbance is a concern...

[bobwills]

Ok. So the powerplasma 50 is the one i would go with then cause its the smallest with IGBT. Im currently waiting on a powerarc 200 to see what I think about your alls products. Hopefuully it will be a big improvement from my 225 ac tombstone. I do know you all have a great customer service thats for sure.

[hooda]

I'm curently running a different brand with IGBT add HF start, I would absolutely recommend both features, and always go AT LEAST one size bigger than you think you'll EVER need. Trust me, If you think you'll only ever need a 50 amp unit, then get a 60 amp, Of course, there's always the almighty dollar, so I guess along that line, get it if you can afford it. I promise you'll never say to yourself "gee, I wish I would have bought a less powerful unit".

[Tritium]

Hopefully it will be a big improvement from my 225 ac tombstone.

It will be WAY better than the Tombstone AC unit. I got rid of mine finally a few weeks ago. It was never used since I have the PowerUltra 205P and my Bobcat.

Thurmond

[SeanMurphy265]

I have a mosfet plasma cutter, and it's OK, but I don't use it that much. It gets the job done, but if I had one with a pilot arc I would probably use it more. If I notch angle iron I still use a cut off wheel. I mostly use it to cut 12g sheet for grills. I did cut a baffle out of a Harley V rod muffler for a guy, but the touch start makes some things a little more difficult.

[bobwills]

I wouldnt even need 50 amps im sure. But when i do buy one someday ill go with a 50 amp unit if i can. Definatly go with IGBT though. And i like how the 50 amp is blowback too. Thats another plus. And you get rid of it? Im never gonna get rid of mine cause its just trusty and always gonna work. But hope i wont ever have to use it and the powerarc will be trusty and always will work forever. And the mosfets ive just heard a lot of bad stories about.

[I_Love_Plasma]

I wouldnt even need 50 amps im sure.

Good choice, don't buy something lesser and find yourself wishing you had bigger. 50 amps of plasma will cleanly cut through 3/4" A-36 steel. And it will do a severance cut of over and inch, gotta go really slow and maintain about 68-72 psi (flowing) and the air MUST be dry. New consumables help to.