advice using plasma cutter

[laurencen]

Hi, yesterday got a 40 amp plasma cutter, never used one, was allways told they were ausome for fabrication work, with all the knoledge on this site could I get some tips on how best to use this machine

 

[deereman75]

What sort of plasma cutter did you get? Make sure you have very dry air, it will make the tips last much longer.

 

[Shield Arc]

Go to the training and education tab, all you'll ever need to know.

Hypertherm | Plasma Cutters | Plasma Cutting Equipment | Metal Cutting Equipment

 

[jmanatee2]

Make sure you have an air dryer and oil and oil mist remover. I have two inline.

Make sure you are running the correct air pressure (usually about 90 psi), A little lower for gouging.

If thin metal you can pierce cut (start in the middle of surface) if thick you should start at edge. Your 40 amp should pierce around 3/8"

Start slightly higher (1/8") when pierce cutting to keep back splash of metal from getting on consumables. Once pierced, lower to very close

In the beginning try to keep the torch at exactly 90* straight down (later you can try cutting on an angle)

Your cut spatter should trail your cut at a slight angle, if the spatter is straight down you are going to slow, if your spatter comes up you are moving to fast or not using enough power.

Practice, practice practice.

 

[yomax4]

Plasma Cutters are most certainly not created equally. Some can not drag cut, Some can drag at 60 amps right on the tip. Some run on very low air pressure and some need 8 cfm. To help you with yours, You may need to add some info. You will enjoy it no matter what.

 

[travis potter]

never cut free hand use a guide even a card board guide will work. If you try free hand you can see your heart beat in the edge of the cut. I say this but my hand is not a steady as it was when I was younger. The cut is 1/8 or so from the timplet so any thing will work.

 

[ovrszd]

never cut free hand use a guide even a card board guide will work. If you try free hand you can see your heart beat in the edge of the cut. I say this but my hand is not a steady as it was when I was younger. The cut is 1/8 or so from the timplet so any thing will work.

True that!!!!!

 

[RPW]

Clean dry air and clean your metal (particularly dirty/rusty steel) before cutting. Like everyone else practice makes perfect. I've use a low end HF for years and with a new tip can cut 1/2". Wouldn't normally recommend that as you will go through tips. A good solid power source i.e. if 220V capable of at least 10 amps greater than what the cutter requires. Good cfm's on your compressor so that it's not running continuously. Did I say practice

Good luck.

 

[toxicjeeper]

I also agree with always using a guide for straight cuts makes life much easier, i usually use a piece of angle iron clamped to work peice when i am cutting 3/8 or bigger plate..recently i have been cutting 1/2..I also found that using a stand-off helped quite a bit in thicker material to extend tip life..

 

[Shield Arc]

I bolted a piece of aluminum angle to the brass bar on my magnetic burning square. Works great on steel, but the magnets don't hold very well to aluminum or stainless steel, maybe they're wore out?:confused2:

 

[Redneck in training]

I bolted a piece of aluminum angle to the brass bar on my magnetic burning square. Works great on steel, but the magnets don't hold very well to aluminum or stainless steel, maybe they're wore out?:confused2:

Good stailess is usually non magnetic. You need special magnet for Al. It is similar to oak magnet used for welding of oak boars with hard wood electrodes.

 

[jake98]

Don't forget to hook up the ground, pilot arc can trick you into thinking you're good to go.

 

[Shield Arc]

It is similar to oak magnet used for welding of oak boars with hard wood electrodes.

 

[Skyco]

Don't forget to hook up the ground, pilot arc can trick you into thinking you're good to go.

:laughing: The other day I kept wondering what was wrong with my plasma cutter..was only getting 16 amps of cutting current instead of the full 40..finally noticed I had the ground from the MIG connected to what I was trying to cut instead of the PC ground, its tough getting old

As said the dry air is very important, I kept having the arc extinguish on my PC until I added an inline desiccant dryer.

 

[deereman75]

t is similar to oak magnet used for welding of oak boars with hard wood electrodes.

I find that the best electrode holder for that weighs about 16oz, and has a claw.