XPR | MAXPRO200 | Powermax | Consumables
Hypertherm in Australia
Plazmax builds high end CNC plasma cutting systems, and Hypertherm power sources are a vital component in our builds. That is a choice rather than an arrangement. There are plenty of other power sources on the market, but Plazmax choose Hypertherm because of their proven track record for cut quality and reliability.
We are an Authorised Hypertherm OEM Channel Partner. We hold genuine Hypertherm consumables and parts in stock for dispatch across Australia. This page explains what Hypertherm makes, what high definition plasma actually means, which system suits your work, and where to get parts in Australia.
What Hypertherm makes
One thing is worth getting straight. Hypertherm do not build cutting machines. They build the power source, the torch, the consumables that wear out inside it, and the software that plans the cut. The table, the gantry, the rails and the motion control are built by an OEM. On a Plazmax machine, that is us.
Plasma power sources
The power source creates and controls the arc. It sets the limit on how good the cut can be, and nothing further down the machine makes up for a poor one. That is why we do not compromise on it. The mechanised range starts at the Powermax SYNC class, runs through MAXPRO200 and the XPR family, and tops out at the 800 amp HPR800XD.
Torches and consumables
The torch and the wear parts inside it do the cutting, so they are a running cost rather than a one-off purchase. Hypertherm specify a matched consumable set for every amperage, material and gas combination their systems support. That means there is a right answer for your job instead of a best guess.
Nesting and automation software
ProNest for nesting and Robotmaster for robot programming, both owned by Hypertherm. Software decides how much of a sheet you use and how many pierces a job needs. Over a year that usually costs more than the consumables do.
Published cut data
Every amperage, material and gas combination has a published cut chart behind it. Most fabricators do not appreciate this until they have run a machine without one. It is why a Hypertherm system is easy to set up, and why a fault can be checked against a known good figure instead of guessed at.
Who Hypertherm is
Most people in the trade just say Hypertherm. The parent company is Hypertherm Associates, and the name is meant literally. The business is 100% owned by the people who work in it, and they are called associates rather than employees. The group covers the plasma side, the OMAX waterjet business, and the software brands including ProNest and Robotmaster.
What high definition plasma actually means
Standard plasma cuts with a relatively loose arc. High definition plasma constricts and shapes it, so the kerf is narrower, the cut face stands squarer and there is less dross to clean off afterwards. Hypertherm's version is X-Definition, and it is what the XPR range runs.
In a workshop it decides how much finishing work a part needs before it can be welded. On thicker plate that is the difference between a part that goes straight to the weld bay and a part that goes to the grinder first, on every piece, on every job.
Our high definition plasma page covers the machines. For more detail, read what an HD plasma cutter is and whether the upgrade is worth it.
Genuine Hypertherm consumables & parts for Australia
We stock genuine Hypertherm consumables for XPR, HPR, MAXPRO200 and mechanised Powermax SYNC systems. Most consumable and parts orders are dispatched the same day, by express courier to Australia.
Consumables are matched to the power source, not to the table. If your machine runs a Hypertherm power source, we can supply the right parts for it. It makes no difference what brand built the gantry or where the machine came from. Hypertherm say the same thing. For XPR, HPR and MAXPRO consumables they tell owners to contact their table manufacturer or OEM.
The consumables page carries the compatibility detail by system. If you already know the part number, the online shop is the quickest route.
The Hypertherm systems we build around
Three mechanised families cover most Australian work. Which one suits you depends on the plate you cut and how often you cut it. Our guide to choosing the right plasma cutter goes through that in detail.
XPR
The current generation of mechanised plasma, and the range Hypertherm build for cut quality. Most new structural steel installations sit here.
MAXPRO200
A 200 amp workhorse built for long duty cycles and steady production rather than occasional use.
Powermax
The SYNC cartridge range. The cartridge carries its own settings, so the system reads the gas pressure and amperage off the cartridge it detects. Changeovers are quick.
FAQs
What does Hypertherm do?
Hypertherm make power sources, torches and consumables for plasma cutting, along with the nesting and robot programming software that goes with them. What they do not make is the cutting machine itself. The table, gantry and motion control come from an OEM, which on a Plazmax system is us.
What is Hypertherm high definition?
High definition is a tighter, more constricted arc than standard plasma, which gives a narrower kerf, a squarer cut face and less dross. Hypertherm call theirs X-Definition and it is what the XPR range runs. The practical result is less grinding before a part can be welded.
Where is Hypertherm?
Hypertherm are based in Hanover, New Hampshire, in the United States, and are part of Hypertherm Associates, which is 100% employee owned. In Australia they do not sell direct. Mechanised systems come through an OEM or table manufacturer, which is what Hypertherm will tell you themselves, and Plazmax is an Authorised Hypertherm OEM Channel Partner supplying consumables and parts across Australia.
Is Hypertherm worth the money?
We think so, and we back that with our own money on every machine we build. We could fit a cheaper power source and make more margin on each system we sell. We do not, because consumable life, arc consistency and published cut data are what set your cost per part. Hypertherm systems are not the cheapest option up front. Where they earn the difference back is cost per part, not cost per machine.
Do you supply Hypertherm consumables in Australia?
Yes. We stock genuine consumables for XPR, HPR, MAXPRO200 and mechanised Powermax SYNC systems and dispatch across Australia. Everything is listed in our online shop, which prices in Australian dollars and ships to Australia.
Where to start
If you know the part number, order it from the shop. If you need to check what fits your machine, the consumables pages carry the compatibility tables for each system. And if you are choosing a machine rather than a part, start with the plate thickness you cut most often and talk to us about the rest.