CNC Plasma cutting eye protection

[Jaime Branco]

What is the best to use for Eye protection?

Jaime

[Gamelord]

Go to your local welding store and get some goggles with the proper tint/shade for plasma.

[Jaime Branco]

But they are to dark to see the machine Computer or not ?

[jimcolt]

This is from a Hypertherm operators manual. Plasma cutters range in power level from 10 amps to 1000 amps, just like with welding, more amps equals a more intense arc. Different shading for comfort and safety is recommended based on the power level of your system. In many air plasma cases a shade 5 or 6 (like dark sunglasses almost) will suffice. Jim Colt Hypertherm

shade chart.jpg

[Jaime Branco]

I use a Powermax 105 but normally I cut at 65 amps and the machine is always cutting minimum 1 meter way from the operator my going to try to buy some UV + Blue light protection glasses to try what you think ?

[michmetalman]

I bought the goggles and took the strap off. I just hold it up to my face when I want to watch the cutting.

[plain ol Bill]

I have made my living welding for 60 years now and still have my eyes. When running the plasma I wear clear safety glasses and don't watch the arc much when cutting. If I hear a strange noise I will look but that is seldom. the arc is so close to the material you don't really get a good look at it anyway. If I have a guest in the shop that is not familiar with an arc I supply them with dark eye protection.

[little blue choo]

Never wear anything.

Rick

[islander261]

Hello

Remember your eyes can't be replaced!

When I first started (40 to 50 amps) I always wore my shade 5 face shield and watched the cut like a vulture. Now I never look at the cut and just listen to the sound of the cut. I do wear safety glasses (my normal glasses plus side shields) at all times. When the cut doesn't sound right I stop the motion (cut) and check out what just happened. The big thing is to get your process dialed in so you are just looking for the problems and let the normal operations carry on. Please don't get me wrong, it took me several years of art work production to figure this out. You watching one of the best resources for plasma cutting info available. Please believe me you will save yourself a lot of grief by paying attention to what many of the experts here have to say.

John

[Rodw]

Hello
Please believe me you will save yourself a lot of grief by paying attention to what many of the experts here have to say.

John

John, surely you are one of those experts. Don't sell yourself short!

[urbnsr]

While running production jobs, I'm not looking at the arc very much, if at all, as I am usually doing a second process with only safety glasses and am out of sight of the arc - only listening for exceptions. When I do need to babysit a cycle at lower amps, I use these shades:

http://www.eastwood.com/plasma-shades.html

p13948sm.jpg

Being only shade 5, some may suggest these are not very useful. I have only been doing this for a few years and cannot recommend what is correct. Please research.

Paul

[little blue choo]

Let me restate myself, I use nothing when the machine is working and I'm doing other things. When I want to look directly at the arc I will put on a pair of #5 shade safety glasses. I keep the disposable ones lying everywhere. Buy them by the 6 pack cheap.

Rick

[Capstone]

There's nothing more frustrating than having a white spot in my vision as I try to do other things.

I went to my welding supplier (ARC3) and bought a cheap $10 pair of #6 or 7 glasses. I also have a spare pair for friends/guests/Observers. I really do pay attention to my cuts because I have yet to get my DTHC Ethercut IV to work correctly with my HT PM45. I have to observe the cut height probably more than most for this reason, especially on thinner material.

[jimcolt]

Heck......its only your eyes. (actually...please pay attention to the chart I posted in this thread...and use it, but only if you want to maintain your vision!) Jim Colt Hypertherm

[Gamelord]

Kinda taken back with some of the replies here. My opinion...and take it for what you are paying for it.....get some cheap glasses from your local welder while you can still see. Damage you do today will show up many years down the road and for less than 20 bucks you can avoid the issues that will show up later on in life.

but then again... I still see people using grinders without gloves and eye protection.....natural selection I guess.

[Jaime Branco]

Thanks for all the answers ....