Plasma Cutter, Pilot Arc [Air Sensor Technology] 110/220V BTC500DP 9th Generation 50Amps Screen Display, Digital Plasma Cutting Machine (BTC500DP 9GEN 110/220V)

This is a great non-touch plasma torch. The design makes it easy to set up all cutting parameters. It’s lightweight, with all external connections done without tools. It’s equipped with an air dryer, which should extend the torch expendable parts life. All controls are on the front panel, easily set and read, except for on/off switch. It can be flipped on or off from the front, once you know it’s located.I’ve cut metal with for years but I’m a first time plasma user. I quickly cut various thickness and conditions of steel, and found it intuitive how to set up the pressure and current. There’s a chart with recommendations, but I found thinner metal below 3/8” could be cut cleanly and quickly with the same setting. All you need to do is cut at the best rate, and that’s learned quickly within the first inch of cutting.I did find it more difficult to punch a hole through thicker metal with plasma than Oxy-acetylene (3/8” and thicker), but the thinner metal was as easy as Oxy-acetylene. I’m sure when I developed the proper technique, the thicker gauge metal will punch easily.I felt so confident after 15 minutes of playing with my new torch, I started and finished two projects I’d been waiting to do because my acetylene bottle was empty.With plasma; all you need is an air compressor, and electricity. And this unit will work on 110 or 220, and both have a 50% duty cycle. For my two projects I was cutting with 220, and it cut both 7/16 and 16 gauge quickly and cleanly by only changing air pressure and current. With Oxy-acetylene I would have had to change tips and played with torch settings and pressures as well. Plasma is so much easier, with no expense of gas, and bulk of the torch and hoses. I’ll never go back!If anyone that reads this wants to buy an Oxy-acetylene system lock-stock-and barrel call me;-).

If you need to fabricate metal parts, and/or make shaped cuts in metal, a plasma cutter is the way to go. So useful in the shop. Once you use one, you’ll appreciate how well this tool works for you.This unit arrived well packaged, and shipped quick. Expected it by UPS, but it came by mail on a Saturday! Researched it well before purchase, and reviews and demos were spot on. Would recommend you do the same, as the demos of the unit’s features really show its capabilities.Easy set up, well designed interface that gets you set and cutting quickly. Cables a decent length for mobility around the workpiece Replaced a 20+ year old commercial unit damaged in a flood that cost 10X the price, and this new one blows it away with ease and speed. Plus, half the weight, so easy to move around.. So far have only cut 1/8” (3mm) material, but it went like a hot knife through “butta”! Some of the demos show it cutting thicker material very well, but haven’t needed to myself. It’s performance on my thinner material matched the demos of the same, so expect it is capable as advertised.Seems well made, but will it last 20 years? Only time will tell. So far, very happy with the purchase, met all my expectations and feel it is a very good value for the price.Really wish there was a N/A on tech support rating, as so far have not needed to use it. (A good thing!) Supplied instructions were all that were needed.I recommend you buy the consumables kit, as tips wear quickly due to the non-contact arc start up. They aren’t expensive, and the convenience and ease of the cut starts make the wear well worth it. So much better than buying cutting wheels or gas for a cut off torch, not to mention so much cleaner, quieter and safer.It does require a decent compressor (~4 cfm), and if running it on 110 vac, a 20 amp circuit to work its best, but it will work with less as long as you lower the current and cut slower, with stops to allow the compressor to refill the tank between cuts. That airflow is critical for the cuts and post cut cool down of the torch. I was able to bring it over to a buddy’s place and run the torch on a 15 amp circuit and a pancake compressor by cutting in short spurts. Not as pretty cuts, but still got the job done in decent time!Overall; a great unit. You know you want one!

Very good product I’ve just used it a few times to cut small steal on 110 and worked great. I’m not a professional but it’s easy to use and you’ll get better at cutting once you figure out the right settings. Amazing machine for the price. 👍🏽