Cutting 11 ga stainless with Hypertherm PowerMax 1250

[J-Gro]

Hey all,

I'm new to the forum - my small company just purchased a Hypertherm PowerMax 1250 and a Dynatorch CNC plasma table. We'll be cutting quite a bit from 11 gauge stainless sheets and are having some trouble optimizing part quality (trying to minimize kerf, dross, spray, discoloration, etc.). So far, the best configuration we've found is using a shielded tip, 60 amp, 140 V, and 125 in/min feedrate.

Does anyone have any recommendations for different tips or other settings that could improve our part quality?

Thanks very much,
Jeff

[jimcolt]

For the finest kerf and the best overal cut quality use the Fine Cut consumables. You can read the cut charts in your manual, 10 ga and 12 gauge are listed but you can adjust your parameters between these two.

Part no's:

Deflector 220404
Ret Cap 120928
Nozzle 220329
Electrode 120926
Swirl Ring 120925

use 45 Amps, a .4 second pierce delay time, .120" pierce height, .010 cut height (yes very close!, should be around 68 to 72 arc volts) and a cut speed of around 90 ipm.

It is critical that the pierce height, pierce delay time and cut height are set accurately. Also, to get minimal dross, experiment with cut speed.....I would start at about 80ipm and do successive cuts at 5 ipm faster until the cut edge meets your liking.

Make sure your air is clean and dry!

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[plain ol Bill]

Jim a 4 second delay on pierce? Wow that is a life time almost. Just wondering if this was correct but knowing you I imagine it is. I haven't cut stainless that thick yet but will remember this.

[jimcolt]

Good catch Bill.......I meant .4 seconds pierce delay.

Jim