Is It Possible to Cut this Part on a Plasma Table?

[vacextar]

I've asked this question to a few different people with mixed results. This part is made from .080" aluminum and has .080" slots cut into it (to interlock with other similar parts). I'm thinking about building or buying a cnc plasma table, but many/most of the parts I make are out of this material with these type slots in them, so I'm wondering if it's even possible to do this or not. Right now I'm having all of this stuff farmed out to a local laser/waterjet cutter.

Also, what's the minimum Hypertherm cutter I would need to be able to do the occasional cut on 3/4" alum? This is not a material I would run very often, but once in a great while. Can alum this thick be cut on a plasma table with good results and edge quality? I'm new to all of this, so thanks for any help you might be able to give me!

[multiplex]

i would say this part is totally possible - would it be as clean as laser or waterjet? probably not.

I'd use a fine tip, which typically gives about a .04" kerf.

check out the new hypertherm 65 & 85. 85 should be able to do 3/4" aluminum.

[vacextar]

Thanks for the reply. Anyone willing to give this part a try on your plasma table if you've got some .080" alum laying around....and you think you can get the slots cut fairly clean? I'd gladly pay for the materials if someone can show me that these parts can be plasma cut.

I'm thinking gauge thickness for this material usually runs more in the range of .076", and I'm thinking that someone once told me there is a choice of .076" kerf width with the correct tip? If this is the case, is there any reason you can't program it to cut the slot in one pass, then back out and resume the rest of the perimeter?....instead of it cutting one side of the slot, and then trying to shift over a couple thousanths to cut the other side of the slot.......because this is what causes all of the dross, correct? Keep in mind I have zero experience with plasma or cnc, just kind of thinking out loud here.

[jimcolt]

I will cut one of these parts for you.....I have .080" aluminum in my shop. The round holes will be cut undersize and drilled out. The slots will have a radius the approx diameter of the arc (about .050") on the bottom, where you have it squared off. The edges will be a bit rough and porous, and a bit of taper. Aluminum is not the best process for an air plasma, but it is acceptable for many applications.

Here are some pics of aluminum cuts: 1st is .080" zipline trolley parts, 2nd and 3rd are 3/16" parts

Jim Colt

[vacextar]

Thanks Jim! I really appreciate your help with this! I saw those pics in the other thread, and I can't say that the edge quality looks that much different from the waterjet parts I'm getting now. Of course laser is....well, very near perfection, but I'm not expecting laser edge quality here. And, yes, I can definitely live with having a radius at the ends of the slots......might have to make some adjustments to the length of my slots if this all works out, but I can live with that!

If this all works out, and I can justify building myself a table, you know who I'll be contacting for a plasma cutter. ;-) Thanks again!

[vacextar]

TTT for a friendly reminder........ Thanks!

[jimcolt]

I am on the road (California) for Hypertherm until Friday February 11th.....hopefully the weather will cooperate and I will cut your part after that.

Jim

[vacextar]

bump.......

[BTA PLASMA]

I believe this part can be done on a CNC plasma

[vacextar]

One more bump to see if I can get anyone who thinks they can run this part to give it a shot on their plasma table. I'm getting closer to being able to pull the trigger on building my own plasma table, and it would be nice to know if I'll be able to run these parts before I make that decision. Thanks!

[jimcolt]

Vacexstar,

I apologize for not getting this done....I actually lost your contact info, and just stumbled across this post again. I have converted your file for my Powermax85, PlasmaCam machine and I will cut it today. The .125 holes cannot be done accurately....so I will cut them smaller, then drill them.

Please email me your shipping address and real name, and I will put the part in the mail.


Jim Colt jim.colt@hypertherm.com

[vacextar]

Email sent! Thanks Jim! As I said in my email, I'd really like to see what the part looks like right off the table......no drilling or clean-up, so I can see how much work I would need to do to the parts if I cut them myself if/when I build my own table. Thanks!!!