Cutting/Piercing 1/2" Plate

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W&W Designs
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Cutting/Piercing 1/2" Plate

Post by W&W Designs »

I had a guy ask me to cut out some 1/2" thick by 24" diameter circles for an entry gate. I told him I had never cut anything that thick, but that I would give it a try. I noticed that my Linux Command CNC sheetcam did not have a pre-loaded plasma cutting tool to cut 1/2".

Can anyone share with me what cut settings you are using to cut 1/2" plate?

I have a Hypertherm 45 plasma cutter.

Thanks!
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tnbndr
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Re: Cutting/Piercing 1/2" Plate

Post by tnbndr »

Go to Hypertherm site and download the manual, there are cut charts in there for starting settings. Do some test cuts and adjust accordingly.
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Charlie10
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Re: Cutting/Piercing 1/2" Plate

Post by Charlie10 »

I used the recommended settings in the manual. Although mine is a bit different than posted above. I had to adjust the arc voltage some. Just be careful that you have long enough lead ins that you are not running over your slag pile from piercing. Because it blows a good amount out the top and I kept knocking the torch sideways.
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W&W Designs
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Re: Cutting/Piercing 1/2" Plate

Post by W&W Designs »

Charlie10,

Do you have a Hypertherm 45? I am wanting to know if it can peirce the 1/2" material or not.

Thanks for all the good information!
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Re: Cutting/Piercing 1/2" Plate

Post by djreiswig »

We have good luck with the ramp pierce in SheetCam. Set the lead in to the material thickness and the plunge rate the same as the cut speed so it plunges at a 45 degree angle. Use a short or no pierce delay so it starts moving away from the slag pile immediately.
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Re: Cutting/Piercing 1/2" Plate

Post by Charlie10 »

I have the Powermax45 XP, yes. And it does pierce, yes. But like I said, you'll get a decent amount of slag on top of the sheet around where you pierced. As long as the the end of your cut or the cut from a part nested next to it doesn't run over the slag pile, you're good. I'd give the lead-in at least 1/2" as djreiswig said. I didn't set mine accordingly the first time I tried and it gave me all sorts of headaches.
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Re: Cutting/Piercing 1/2" Plate

Post by SeanP »

I have done a fair bit of 12mm with the old 45, it will pierce it, I have pierce delay around 1.4 secs and pierce height 3.9 to 4mm.
The duramax torch upgrade is definitely better on the old 45 but the slag pile can be a problem.
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Re: Cutting/Piercing 1/2" Plate

Post by jimcolt »

Yes , the Powermax45 can pierce 1/2" if you follow the specs in the cut chart posted by Charlie 10. the pierce height and pierce delay are key. Cut quality on 1/2" at these specs is very nice. Jim Colt Hypertherm

W&W Designs wrote:Charlie10,

Do you have a Hypertherm 45? I am wanting to know if it can peirce the 1/2" material or not.

Thanks for all the good information!
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