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| Choosing the right Plasma Cutter |
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| Deciding Which Longevity Plasma Arc Cutter |
| When deciding what Longevity Plasma Cutter is best for you, there are several questions and key points to consider: |
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How thick is the metal you most often cut? |
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What is the maximum thickness you might cut? |
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What kind of metal are you cutting? |
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How fast do you want to cut? |
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Deciding Voltage & Dual Voltage |
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Duty Cycle (DC) |
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Knowing Amperage |
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Consumables |
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Understanding your Power Source |
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| Before we handle some of the gritty questions and make decisions, it is important to understand the necessary components and terms. |
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| High Frequency |
| High frequency refers to the type of ignition mechanism for your Longevity Plasma Cutter. For example the Longevity Force Cut LP-70 Plasma Cutter uses a High Frequency starting mechanism to ignite the spark at the torch tip of your plasma arc. This is a quality starting mechanism, however the high frequency emitted by the machine itself may interfere with your electrical and computer equipment in or around the work area. With this machine the plasma arc is ignited by electrical current produced at a high frequency. Also, the torch tip must be in contact with the metal in order to ignite a spark. |
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| Pilot Arc |
| The Pilot Arc technology is a manner of ignition that allows a spark from at the torch tip with out ever touching the material. With the Longevity Force Cut LP-50D Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter a spark can be ignited at the torch tip several inches away from the cutting surface. The benefits of this cutting edge technology are the ability to cut materials quickly and accurately with out the negative affects of high frequency, but more importantly, the ability to ignite a spark with out the tip touching the material will help protect and prolong the life of your consumables. |
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| Dual Voltage |
| Certain Longevity Plasma Cutters have a dual voltage capability. The Longevity Force Cut LP-40D Plasma Cutter and the Longevity Force Cut LP-40D Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter are dual voltage machines that use a different manner of igniting a spark at the torch tip. This means each machine, regardless of its method for igniting a spark, will operate at either 110 V AC or 220 V AC. |
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| Consumables |
| Consumables are arguably the most important thing to consider when deciding which Longevity Plasma Arc Cutter is right for you. The term consumables refers to the components in plasma arc cutting that are consumed in the cutting process and require consistent replacement. These items are contact tips, liners, electrodes, nozzles, caps, etc. A full listing and purpose of each consumable can be found in the Resources page. Realize that, by comparison, the initial cost of a plasma cutter seems expensive, but these consumable components need to be maintained and will end up being the burden of cost. Therefore, it is sage advice to invest in quality consumables and exercise proper cutting technique. |
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| Duty Cycle |
| Duty Cycle (DC) is a very important aspect of a plasma cutter. Longevity Plasma Cutter's have a 60% Duty Cycle, which nearly doubles the closest competitor's rating of 30%. Important to note, the duty cycle determines the amount of time you can operate a plasma cutter. The most common measure of this rating is determined in minutes. If you were to cut for ten minutes at an amp output that allowed for 100%DC then operating at 60%DC on the same project will allow for 6 minutes of continuous cutting. For example, the Longevity Force Cut LP-70 operates at a 60% DC at 70 amp output. This means you will be able to operate your Longevity Force Cut LP-70 at 70 amp output for 6 minutes without stopping. If you were to use the competition's plasma cutter you would only be able to operate for 3 minutes without stopping. |
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| Knowing Amperage |
| s we begin the discussion that sifts through all the variables to consider when selecting a Longevity Plasma Cutter, a good place to begin is understanding the relevance of the unit's amperage. Similar to a Longevity Weldmate LT-200 or a Longevity WeldMax LC-520D, the combination of amperage and voltage determine the relative "size" of a Longevity Plasma Cutter. Generally speaking, to form a plasma arc powerful enough to cut thick materials a Longevity Plasma Cutter requires relatively high voltage and low amperage levels. The total output power (watts) equals amperage times voltage. Articles provided by the Longevity Facility Testing Team in the plasma cutter section of the Resources page are available to give further detail about the plasma arc process. |
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| Realize the input voltage combined with the amperage directly affects the heat produced by the torch. Thus, the cutting capacity of a plasma cutter differs from one manufacturer to another. Below is a chart that displays each Longevity Plasma Cutter and it's features. |
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| Longevity Plasma Cutter - Summary |
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Rated Output |
| "Rated" Cutting Thicknesses * |
| Mild Steel |
Stainless Steel |
Aluminum |
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Recommended Generator Power |
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ForceCut® LP-40D |
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40 A at 60% (230 V Input)
30 A at 60% (110 V Input) |
1/2 in |
1/2 in |
1/4 in |
2500 watts |
| ForceCut® LP-40D Pilot Arc |
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40 A at 60% or 30 A at 100% (230 V Input)
30 A at 60% or 25 A at 100% (110 V Input) |
1/2 in |
1/2 in |
1/4 in |
4000 watts |
| ForceCut® LP-50D |
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50 A at 60% or 40 A at 100% (230 V Input)
40 A at 60% or 30 A at 100% (110 V Input) |
3/4 in |
3/4 in |
3/8 in |
4000 watts |
| ForceCut® LP-50D Pilot Arc |
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50 A at 60% or 40 A at 100% (230 V Input)
40 A at 60% or 30 A at 100% (110 V Input) |
3/4 in |
3/4 in |
3/8 in |
4000 watts |
| ForceCut® LP-60D |
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60 A at 60% or 50 A at 100% (230 V Input)
40 A at 60% or 30 A at 100% (110 V Input) |
1 in |
1 in |
1 in |
10,000 watts |
| ForceCut® LP-70 |
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70 A at 60% (230 V Input) |
1 1/4 in |
1 1/4 in |
1 1/4 in |
8000 watts |
| ForceCut® LP-80 |
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80 A at 60% (230 V Input) |
1 1/2 in |
1 1/2 in |
1 1/2 in |
9000 watts |
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MaxArc® LP-100 |
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100 A at 60% (230 V Inpute 3 phase) |
2 in |
2 in |
2 in |
10,000 watts |
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| Class Key: |
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Hobbyist |
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Light Industrial |
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Industrial |
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| Quality Key: |
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Designed for this process |
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Capable of this process |
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| Longevity Plasma Cutter - Features |
| Plasma Cutter |
Product Weight |
Highlighted Features |
| ForceCut® LP-40D |
25 lbs (28 lbs Boxed) |
110/220 V Input, Portable, High Frequency Start, Toshiba Mosfet Technology |
| ForceCut® LP-40D Pilot Arc |
25 lbs (28 lbs Boxed) |
Pilot Arc Starting Technology, 110/220 V Input, Portable, Toshiba Mosfet Technology |
| ForceCut® LP-50D |
25 lbs (28 lbs Boxed) |
60% Duty at 50A & 100% Duty at 40A, 110/220 V Input, Portable, High Frequency Start, Toshiba Mosfet Technology |
| ForceCut® LP-50D Pilot Arc |
25 lbs (28 lbs Boxed) |
Pilot Arc Starting Technology, 60% Duty at 50A & 100% Duty at 40A, 110/220 V Input, Portable, Toshiba Mosfet Technology |
| ForceCut® LP-60D |
36 lbs (40 lbs Boxed) |
Powerful and Versatile! 110/220 V Input with 1" Cut Capability, Toshiba Mosfet Technology |
| ForceCut® LP-70 |
38 lbs (45 lbs Boxed) |
Commercial Grade, Powerful, 220 V Input, Toshiba Mosfet Technology |
| ForceCut® LP-80 |
40 lbs (47 lbs Boxed) |
Most Powerful 1-Phase 220 V Input, 1 1/2 in Rated, Toshiba Mosfet Technology |
| MaxArc® LP-100 |
74 lbs (90 lbs Boxed) |
Industrial Grade, 220 V Input 3-phase, 2 in Rated, Portable |
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| Longevity Plasma Cutter - Typical Applications |
| Plasma Cutter |
Typical Applications |
| ForceCut® LP-40D |
Hobbyist, Auto-Body, Plumbers, Sheet Metal Work, Thin Material, HVAC |
| ForceCut® LP-40D Pilot Arc |
Hobbyist, Auto-Body, Plumbers, Sheet Metal work, Thin materials. Pilot Arc enables easier Arc Starting |
| ForceCut® LP-50D |
Hobbyist, Light Industrial work, When higher duty cycle is required, Construction, Maintenance, HVAC |
| ForceCut® LP-50D Pilot Arc |
Hobbyist, Light Industrial, Commercial, Fabrication, Maintenance, Light Construction |
| ForceCut® LP-60D |
Boat Repair, Commercial, Light Industrial, Body Shops, Repair |
| ForceCut® LP-70 |
Commercial, Industrial, Repair, Fabrication |
| ForceCut® LP-80 |
Manufacturing, Repair, Heavy Fabrication, Construction, Industrial |
| MaxArc® LP-100 |
Manufacturing, Industrial, Construction, Heavy Duty Fabrication, Automation |
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| Primary Power Source |
| A Longevity Plasma Cutter requires two elements in order to ignite a plasma arc. You need a filtered consistent air supply and an electrical power source. Therefore, the next stage is to determine what power source is available, what voltage you need to operate, and the thickness of the material you will be cutting. When operating in your shop the required voltage of your primary power source is merely a matter of plugging in. However, many mechanical contractors opt for the lightweight versatility of a Longevity Plasma Cutter because the inverter technology it utilizes allows for great mobility and most units feature an option for TIG Welding and Stick Welding. Also, Longevity Plasma Cutter has a built in primary power management technology called Powerline. This technology allows a machine to accept input voltages ranging from 110 V through 240 V, single or three-phase, 50 or 60 Hz. This means you can plug in your Longevity Plasma Cutter anywhere in the world and make a quality cut regardless how much the primary power fluctuates between the 110V to240V range. Also, your Longevity Plasma Cutter will run off a diesel generator as long as the correct wattage is produced as specified in your owner's manual. The best feature of this aspect is the freedom it gives many contractors and fabricators to work outside the shop. |
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| Rate, Speed, and Power |
| Given the specifications above, the next variable in the decision making process is a combination of the type of metal, it's thickness, and how often you will be cutting. It may seem obtuse to consider how often you may be performing a cut, however, this bit of information applies directly to the hobbyist and the replacement of consumables. Understanding the cutting speed relates to the aforementioned terms as well as the thickness and type of metal to be cut. Both Pilot Arc and High Frequency provide extremely strong and fast cuts depending on the amperage of the unit and the metal thickness. One, subjective, factor to consider is the %DC you decide to operate your Longevity Plasma Cutter. Operating at 60% DC will allow a thicker cut, however the need to stop and start could afffect the quality of the the cut. Stopping and starting can often create an excesss of dross, molten metal, warping, and will cause your consumables to decline at a more rapid pace. |
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| Below is a brief description of the three cut ratings: |
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Rated Cut |
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Rated Cut- The thickness of metal an operator can manually cut mild steel at a rate of 10 inches per minute (IPM). 10 IPM is the arbitrary speed chosen to be the minimum at which an operator can achieve a smooth cut at the best quality. For example, a Longevity Force Cut LP-60D has a rated cut of 1" thick steel. |
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Quality Cut |
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Allows for cutting of thicker material at a slower rate. The Longevity Force Cut LP-40D Pilot Arc provides a quality cut of 1/2" thick steel but at a speed less than 10 IPM. |
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Sever Cut |
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Cutting speed will be discernibly slower because the operator is pushing the machine to its maximum thickness capabilities. Cutting speeds will increase as the materials get thinner and then the choice reverts back the DC and how much cutting needs to be done. The Longevity Force Cut LP-50D Pilot Arc plasma cutter has a 60% DC at 50 amps and will cut 1/2" steel at 17 IMP. The same material at 100% DC will be cut at roughly 14 IMP. |
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