has anyone cut cast iron

[Coffinscreekcustoms]

I was wondering if you can cut cast iron with a plasma?
thanks jake

[mdwalker]

yes you can. I haven't done it on my cnc but I know some on here have. There are some pictures on here of cast iron skillets that have been cut with plasma. http://plasmaspider.com/viewtopic.php?f ... =+skillets

[jimcolt]

While there are a lot of different grades of cast iron, all that I have cut seems to cut just like steel.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[DXF]

Yes, it cuts like butter! I use brand new skillets (tried used ones and they don't work well) and cut them using a Hobart Airforce 375 plasma with a .035" kerf width set at 25 amps and 9.5 ipm speed with a 2.5 second pierce time. I entered the one in the picture in the "Show Us Your Buckmark" contest and won $500 worth of Browning Merchandise. I use a chisel with a plastic hammer to carefully remove the slag. Cast iron is very brittle and breaks easy so try to make the webs thick.

Dave Hanks

[rustyhook]

great question and answers as well. DXF is 100% right, be careful knocking off slag.

I prefer to use griddles, the lip is only 1/2" tall and it is somewhat lighter in weight. this one is 10.5" diameter.
academy has em.

RH

[Coffinscreekcustoms]

Thanks y'all I thought I saw the skillets here but wasn't for sure!!
Thanks jake

[DXF]

I actually altered my table and added flip clamps to hold the skillets upside down, backwards and on a 45 degree angle. I've cut different kinds from Chinese to American made. Lodge skillets (made in Tennessee) seem to cut the best but they're not cheap. I'm designing an extension arm to raise my plasma torch and extend it out so I can cut about 55 platters and trays that I purchased at rummage sales without altering my table. I'll make a fixture that I can clamp to my table and always have it in the same XY position with movable clamps because all of the trays are different shapes and sizes. Most of them have very ornate trim and you can usually buy them for $1 or $2. I'll post pictures when I start cutting them.

Dave Hanks