PowerMax45 vs 1/2" Steel. Pics

[gamble]

Well almost half inch. My super accurate $9.99 tool says .46 thick but that's pretty close

I was playing with some settings, these are my first 2 attempts at cutting 1/2" and I'm pretty happy with how they came out. The dross was removed with a pony clamp and dropping it on the floor a few times. It was so hot I didn't want to touch it and the pony clamps were right there. It came off super easy. That was the only clean up I did. I'm sure they will look great once they are all cleaned up with a flap wheel
The only difference between the 2 are 3inches per minute and one has .3 overburn. Still need to figure out if I can make the lead in curve in to reduce the little notch where the arc goes in then up. Not too sure I'd chance it and cut anything thicker but I'm pretty happy with these results.

Still debating on a Pm65....IF I can do small cuts like this at 55-65amps without blowing my small 30amp breaker

[Capstone]

The cutouts are good, but what's impressive to me are the holes. How on earth did you set those up? With pre-drilled edge-start holes first?
Did they come out the right size?

[gamble]

The holes have some slight taper but not at all that bad. Nothing was pre drilled. I threw on the material modified the book spec settings and hit cut. Got any pics of the 3/4" you did? I would be curious to see that. I think the holes could of come out better but it seems as if the torch starts to dive at the end of the holes. Wonder if I can turn that off somehow
I just need to clean it all up. I am not sure if my little 1/2 hp drill can handle it though.
I just wanted to see if I can do this. I can't be price competitive on them though. Someone else can cut them cleaner, holes drilled and tapped for $14/each

[see&see]

Nice cuts, the quality is a little better for me with the 45 amp process as well on 1/2" MS vs the 65 amp process. Speed is a bit slower of course with 45 amp. The only downside I noticed is the 45 amp tips won't last as long piercing as the 65 amp tips on 1/2" but I prefer the 45 amp process even if I use more tips. Depends on the application but you can have near laser quality at 45 amp on 1/2" if you set up correctly.

I usually mark a point and drill if I'm going to tap threads to save cooking the drill bit..

[Brand X]

Looks like quite a bit of inside bevel to me.. I would not be happy with that quality.. I have seen awesome cuts on .500 MS with 65 amp consumables.(Hyper 85) Totally book parameters. My friend cut tons of that stuff, and it comes out sweet.. I have not quite been able to get to his level yet, with my Powermax 65.. I can with my other machine,machines.. I kind of think steel chemistry plays a big roll in cut quality..

[gamble]

You also have more power to play with

[SeanP]

It is tricky getting the lead in out combination just right, I quite often have to use a ruleset that adds a little feedrate slowdown near the end just to catch that tab where it crosses over the leadin.
You seem very slow on your feedrate at 3''/min? I would be just under 20''/min on that thickness with the 45.
To stop diving you need a rule to turn off thc somehow, or at least just turn off thc manually on holes.

[Brand X]

50-55 amps will be similar to yours with my Victor.. I get great cuts with that setup.. Know how to use that machine though..(had them forever)

[jimcolt]

If I want best cut quality....and virtually no taper on 1/2" (with my Powermax85) I use the 45 amp shielded consumables. The Powermax85, 65, 105 and 45 will all cut 1/2" steel at the same specs. The taper I see in the pics is likely a nozzle orifice nick that occurred from piercing too close. 1/2" is tough to pierce at 45 amps.....you need about a .2 to .25 pierce height and about a 1.2 second pierce delay.....then you will not damage the orifice on the first pierce.

If I had 100 parts nested on 1/2" and I did not want to babysit the machine...I would use the 65 amp shielded process....then go mow the lawn while all parts were being cut. Jim Colt Hypertherm

This is 1/2" steel with any of the 45 amp shielded processes from Hypertherm Powermax systems.

IMG_2948.jpg (51.09 KiB) Viewed 1965 times

[gamble]

It is tricky getting the lead in out combination just right, I quite often have to use a ruleset that adds a little feedrate slowdown near the end just to catch that tab where it crosses over the leadin.
You seem very slow on your feedrate at 3''/min? I would be just under 20''/min on that thickness with the 45.
To stop diving you need a rule to turn off thc somehow, or at least just turn off thc manually on holes.

First one was 20 then I slowed it down 3 to 17ipm

[SeanP]

It is tricky getting the lead in out combination just right, I quite often have to use a ruleset that adds a little feedrate slowdown near the end just to catch that tab where it crosses over the leadin.
You seem very slow on your feedrate at 3''/min? I would be just under 20''/min on that thickness with the 45.
To stop diving you need a rule to turn off thc somehow, or at least just turn off thc manually on holes.

First one was 20 then I slowed it down 3 to 17ipm

Ah right sorry I missed that
Those holes are good Gamble

[nalin400m]

First time every cutting 1/2". This is exact book settings for 65A consumables on mild steel. Very pleased with the Hypertherm 85 and Bulltear table.