Welding Tips and Tricks

I see we have Jim Colt on board. Welcome Jim. I have a question. I bought a Powermax30 about 2 or 3 years ago and I am happy with it since I don't do any thick metal but my question is: they came out with the 30xp after I bought my machine and I am wondering if my machine is upgradable to the 30xp specs or is it a different animal altogether? Also how long before the 30xp came out, did Hypertherm announce it? The reason I ask is that the LWS I was using is staffed by a bunch of SNAKES IN THE GRASS, and I am wondering if they knew about the 30xp when they sold me my machine. Thanks in advance...Jeff

The District Sales Managers for Hypertherm all have Beta prototype demo units a couple of months before a new product (that will be replacing an existing product) is announced. The prototypes are brought to the weld distributor stores so the sales people and management know what is coming. I am quite sure that not 100% of the distributor salespeople are always aware of new products from us or their other brands (welding, cutting, etc.)

We have a history of updating our products in a 7 to 10 year cycle....ensuring that the newest technology in torches, consumables and power supplies become available as soon as possible. That being said, the new 30XP has more cutting power in terms of load voltage (50% more kilowatts) as well as a new technology torch with shielded consumables and Finecut consumables....all technology that simply was not available when the original 30 amp unit was designed. It is a new power supply, new torch and different consumables...so the original Powermax30 is not upgradable.

The 30XP has been on the market for about 14 months....so if you bought the Powermax30 2 to 3 years ago...even I would not have known about the 30XP!

It's kind of like buying computers.....you can buy the best and generally within a year or so something better is developed. The 30XP is more expensive than the 30 was. Fortunately a used Powermax30 has a pretty high resale value.....some have sold the 30 and upgraded to the 30XP.

Jim Colt

exnailpounder wrote:I see we have Jim Colt on board. Welcome Jim. I have a question. I bought a Powermax30 about 2 or 3 years ago and I am happy with it since I don't do any thick metal but my question is: they came out with the 30xp after I bought my machine and I am wondering if my machine is upgradable to the 30xp specs or is it a different animal altogether? Also how long before the 30xp came out, did Hypertherm announce it? The reason I ask is that the LWS I was using is staffed by a bunch of SNAKES IN THE GRASS, and I am wondering if they knew about the 30xp when they sold me my machine. Thanks in advance...Jeff

Thanks for the response Jim. I really am happy with my Powermax30 and use it alot. Its perfect for most of what I do but I wanted to be sure the scumbags at my ex-LWS didn't sell me on the 30 just to get rid of old stock before the XP came out. If I told you what they tried to pull on me you would understand. Thanks again and enjoy the site...lots of good folk here. Have a great weekend!