Hobart Airforce 500i Plasma Cutter 115V or 230V
Ever wanted a powerful metal cutter that can cut through steel metal sheets like a hot knife on butter? Introducing one of the most sought after machine from Hobart, the Airforce 500i unit. This cutter uses an electrical arc and compressed air to cut any conducting metal with less warping and heat affected zone. It has a built-in Fan On Demand technology which runs automatically at required intervals to reduce dust getting inside the cutter, greatly extending it lifespan.
This is one of the very first Hobart plasma cutter to use the MVP (Multi-Voltage Plug) which allows reliable convenient power connections via any common household outlet that uses the 115 VAC or 230VAC. The best thing about it is you don’t need any tools to do the changeovers. Simply connect the plug and you’re basically ready to go. The unit comes prepackaged with a HP-50 torch which is designed with maximum comfort and more efficient cooling mechanism via its post flow air cooling feature.
Unlike older models where you are required to preheat the metal prior to operation, you don’t need any of this fuss with the Hobart Airforce 500i. There are no gas pressure settings to play with and definitely no flame tuning required, though you do need an external air compressor to function the machine with a recommended PSI of between 90-120. However, once everything is connected in place , you will begin to realize how much performance it has as you cut through stainless steel, aluminium and more.
Let’s check out some of it’s specs
Input: 115V/230V
| Output: | 115V 20% @ 27 AMPS |
| 230V 35% @ 27 AMPS |
Dimensions (W x D x H): 36.3cm x 21cm x 28.7cm
Weight: 27.8 lb or 14 kg
Cut Thickness:
Rated Cut – 3/8 inch
Max Cut – 5/8 inch
Product Code: 500548
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What do we think?
This is no doubt a more than capable plasma cutting unit that will provide superior clean cut and absolutely no grinding. Even though it is a bit dated now, but if you are not looking for the latest or most advanced model on the market then you’re sure to get a lot of punch from this compact machine. If this model is not for you, then you may also want to check out the Hobart 700i for extra cut capacity.
