Here, nothing but plasma cutter topics:
http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/forumdisplay.php?f=18Basically, you get what you pay for. Hypertherm and the Thermal Dynamic machines seem to be the market leaders, I believe both to be re-branded as Miller and Snap-on, etc. If you want a quality machine, stay with the known brands. Decide on what thickness you normally cut, get something with clean cut to that capacity, you then have extra capacity to sever the odd thickness you run into. Make sure you have a sustainable supply of consumables (not combustibles)in torch bits. Decide if you want a CNC-capable machine, decide if you want one that can gouge or not. Make sure the have the proper circuit to run the machine, verify the amperage of your circuit breaker AND wiring against the listed specs of the machine. Make sure you have the required dry compressed air per the specs of the machine. Then look at your budget and see the closest fit. There aren't that many decision points on a plasma machines, I think that is about it.
Since you have an acetylene torch, you can get by with that for the really thick cuts you on occasion may need to make, so you are ahead of some people in that regard.
