REVIEW: BestArc BTC500DP 3Gen Plasma Cutter
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- čas přidán 30. 10. 2023
- Testing an affordable "pilot arc" plasma cutter - a pilot arc is a much better way to be plasma cutting, and you'll need one to use a CNC plasma table. UPDATE: But not this one: you need a "Low-Frequency Start" for CNC, and this one is "High-Frequency." BestArc ~does~ sell a LF plasma cutter....
Purchase one:
www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6G3SQ3W
www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C6G3SQ3W
Additional Links:
bestarc.com/
/ bestarc_offical
/ bestarc_plasma
/ @bestarc-plasma
LF Arc Start:
www.bestarc.com/collections/p...
It's also a high frequency machine, which makes it a poor choice for use with a CNC plasma table. The amount of EMF thrown off by these high frequency machines makes for resets and glitches in the CNC controller and/or whatever you are feeding it gcode with, even with an obsessive level of shielding on ALL cable runs and the enclosure, = ruined cuts, restarts and scrapped material. CZcams and CNCzone is full of such tales of woe and struggle where the builder eventually throws in the towel and finally goes and buys another cutter, a low frequency blowback start pilot arc. HF is fine for hand cutting, but not CNC unless you like the idea of making a rod for your back.
I was going to add the same comment. I built my own table and had a lower priced plasma cutter that crashed my computer every time I started the torch. All the grounding and protecting wasn’t worth it. I got an everlast and haven’t looked back.
Interesting. I'll look into that. Thanks for the heads up!
@GregWellwood The Arcfony cut53 N pro is a good choice for cnc, LF blowback with cnc ports for start and torch height control already built in. Pair it up with a iptm60 or 80 machine torch and it's ideal. A baby hypertherm but with an unfortunate name.
@@m3chanist thanks! Good to know
@@GreoltGood to hear. Since I have this machine already, I'll try it and do up a video. If it sucks, a LF unit is just a visa away. (grin)
That looks like a nice little unit. I have some frame repairs in my future and there are so many plasma cutters to pick from. Good to see one in action to narrow down the number of choices. The price is reasonable too.
thanks for the solid review of an affordable, DIY level machine...until robo arms become a little more cost effective, this is a great option for someone who isn't using it daily. Having the capability with the next up unit to install it for CNC is smart by bestarc...they're covering off both niches nicely
How's this vs Arccaptain?
This does have a steel cabinet. It could easily be put in a small faraday cage with chokes around the leads.
I added a link in the description to a page that talks about making a HF unit work. I ~may~ try that, but it does seem like a lot of extra work vs buying a LF unit.
The difference between "could work" and "does work" is significant and expensive and also, a well trod path.
Can I use a small 6 gallon compressor?,I just want to use the cutter for thin metals to make art and stuff. I can also get a 10 gallon,but again it's just for small sruff
If the compressor can privide the CFM that the cutter needs (1.6cfm), then yes.
Thanks
The "purchase one" Amazon links you provide arent for the same machine as the one you demonstrate
I noticed that. There should be boxes on the page in the link to take you to the specific model you want.
I just got one of these and people need to be cautious about what to expect. To run it on 110V, you're limited by the breaker size of your circuit. The panel says you can drive it up to 35 A. But you'd need a 35 Amp circuit (Bestarc says they recommend a 40 Amp breaker). This is nonsense. No one has a 40 amp 110 residential circuit in their house. And if you run it on 220 V, you're again limited by what the circuit can handle.
That said, I don't plan on cutting much thicker than 1/4 material and it works fine at 110 for that on my garage 20 Amp circuit. Make sure you have lots of air, the arc will keep cutting out if the pressure/airflow is not sufficient.
can i use a 3 gallon compressor with that
Check the CFM of your compressor with what the unit requires, and make sure you have more :) .
It will cut 1 inch .
That's impressive! I had no 1" to try..... I think it's only rated to 12mm clean cut, or 16mm messy
Too bad they dont show compressors. Best to be left in dark.
I wasn't testing compressors. Or is than not your question?
Like the content of your videos, but hate that “gather round” intro.
He is an actual shop teacher, just accept your C and get on with life.
As a former shop teacher I love that into.