I just got my new hypertherm powermax 1000 delivered today. Man, my boss is the best! In just one year at the helm, she brought us all christmas in september. got everyone here the tools/toys/whatever, that they thought they needed to get stuff done.
The hypertherm is beautifully made and designed. I am VERY impressed. I have yet to plug it in (since it just got here half an hour ago), but I am sure I will be just as impressed then. I have used an number of older designs in the past, thermal dynamics, lincoln, and one other I can't remember. never was too impressed with the quality of the construction, and with one, not at all impressed with the cuts.
best $2132 (delivered to my loading dock) of someone else's money that I have ever spent. Hands down.
Check out the hypertherms website, and make sure the one you buy has the newer model of torch that has the most advanced electrodes. From previous expereince the electrode design is the lynchpin of the whole operation, and if what I have been told is correct, they have the longest lasting, most economical to replace.
skip the import crap on this one man.