Lotos lt5000d Chinese Plasma cutter

[Elguapo]

Hope I didn't throw away $300. Snipped a new Lotos plasma for 290 shipped on ebay:flame:

I've been researching plasma cutters since using Flores's to cut axle mounting brackets.
I really wanted a hypertherm 30, but the cheapest I could find on a deep discount was 950 shipped. If I was going to hook up to a CNC table, or use it for a living if deffenitly spend some bucks. But as a weekend tinkerer I'll keep it cheap. Just hope it doesn't bite me in the ass and I get some years out of it. I'll post some cut pictures of various metals at 110 and give my thoughts on it

 

[YELLAHEEP]

I bought one very similar to that one, a Cut 40 brand. Same deal, bought it from a dealer in Centennial for $300. It worked well for me. I'd probably still be using it if it weren't for the SMOKIN' deal Skully made me on his used Hypertherm Powermax 380.

Old_man bought that Cut 40 from me...... Tom? Is it still working for ya?

 

[Hypoid]

Where do you buy the consumables?

 

[Elguapo]

Ebay for consumalbles

 

[SeeingSpots]

Ebay for consumalbles

I would buy a bunch of tips and electrodes all at once while they're still available. I know a guy that bought an Everlast PC and then they switched the gun design and he couldn't find them anymore. From what I understand a lot of these china makes utilize the same guns, so you might be okay.

 

[Elguapo]

Hell ya, fingers crossed I get a good unit and ill order a good amount of consumables.
Getting the interest to fund a karma ghia to slam. O noes

 

[eflores]

ls1 ghia

 

[Hypoid]

MEH! It needs an FE...

 

[ColoradoRaptor]

I bought one very similar to that one, a Cut 40 brand. Same deal, bought it from a dealer in Centennial for $300. It worked well for me. I'd probably still be using it if it weren't for the SMOKIN' deal Skully made me on his used Hypertherm Powermax 380.

Old_man bought that Cut 40 from me...... Tom? Is it still working for ya?

I have one of those, I believe I got it from the same supplier as Yella. It is still working fine for me.

 

[Elguapo]

**** you China.
The plasma is 110/220v. However it only comes with the 220 plug. Cut up a old mini fridge 110v plug and combined the 220v and 110v plugs.
Couple of issues.
-air comes out of the torch without touching the button. I made sure the consumable and everything was snug.
-I don't actually get a flame or anything. However, if I touch the tip on metal it trys to does spark.
-pos ground clamp doesn't tighten on it's own.

Going to find a bigger cord to cut. The on light doesn't seem very bright to me, I assume the units not getting enough power. My concern is once I get enough power if I will have enough air blowing.
Should have done it right and gone American. Already regretting it

 

[ColoradoRaptor]

**** you China.
The plasma is 110/220v. However it only comes with the 220 plug. Cut up a old mini fridge 110v plug and combined the 220v and 110v plugs.
Couple of issues.
-air comes out of the torch without touching the button. I made sure the consumable and everything was snug.
-I don't actually get a flame or anything. However, if I touch the tip on metal it trys to does spark.
-pos ground clamp doesn't tighten on it's own.

Going to find a bigger cord to cut. The on light doesn't seem very bright to me, I assume the units not getting enough power. My concern is once I get enough power if I will have enough air blowing.
Should have done it right and gone American. Already regretting it

That is part of your problem right there.......... :twak:

 

[ColoradoRaptor]

**** you China.
The plasma is 110/220v. However it only comes with the 220 plug. Cut up a old mini fridge 110v plug and combined the 220v and 110v plugs.
Couple of issues.
-air comes out of the torch without touching the button. I made sure the consumable and everything was snug.
-I don't actually get a flame or anything. However, if I touch the tip on metal it trys to does spark.
-pos ground clamp doesn't tighten on it's own.

Going to find a bigger cord to cut. The on light doesn't seem very bright to me, I assume the units not getting enough power. My concern is once I get enough power if I will have enough air blowing.
Should have done it right and gone American. Already regretting it

Hint Hint.....

 

[ColoradoRaptor]

**** you China.
The plasma is 110/220v. However it only comes with the 220 plug. Cut up a old mini fridge 110v plug and combined the 220v and 110v plugs.
Couple of issues.
-air comes out of the torch without touching the button. I made sure the consumable and everything was snug.
-I don't actually get a flame or anything. However, if I touch the tip on metal it trys to does spark.
-pos ground clamp doesn't tighten on it's own.

Going to find a bigger cord to cut. The on light doesn't seem very bright to me, I assume the units not getting enough power. My concern is once I get enough power if I will have enough air blowing.
Should have done it right and gone American. Already regretting it

I hope you are not running higher than 40psi...........

 

[YELLAHEEP]

The torch will blow air after first trigger pull until you pull the trigger again.

If you're saing it blows air all the time when hooked up to the air source regardless of trigger pull, then yeah you have a problem.

As far as the 220/110 v thing, I seem to recall there was something inside the Cut 40 I had that I had to physically select/switch to get to run on 220 or 110. That combining wire thing sounds WAY wrong.....

 

[old_man]

I bought one very similar to that one, a Cut 40 brand. Same deal, bought it from a dealer in Centennial for $300. It worked well for me. I'd probably still be using it if it weren't for the SMOKIN' deal Skully made me on his used Hypertherm Powermax 380.

Old_man bought that Cut 40 from me...... Tom? Is it still working for ya?

Haven't used it that much but it still seems to work fine.

 

[jimgrms]

Combining the plugs won't work ,you will then have 2 plugs hot all the time there must be a selector somewhere ,

 

[Elguapo]

Cool. Manual said 70psi, I'll try lower. I'll also loo for a selector inside

 

[Elguapo]

Thanks for the help guys. I'll put up a picture of my power cable as well.
What I did makes sense, but im no electrician lol

 

[Elguapo]

Good news, it's working.
Did some research and it pointed me in a ****ed up direction.
Hooked it back up the way it made sense to me and turned up the power settings. Runs well on 60-70psi at the 110v.
I also put some vice grips on the ground clamp.
The air stops leaking from the gun when not using after it cycles after being turned on
The gun turns on only once you've about touched the metal so I have to keep the tip close. I am going to buy a guard for the tip and play with it.
More to come