First Cuts, looking for some feedback please

[jham4x4]

I just got all of the big issues out of the way and am trying to do the fine tuning. I think I picked a hard gauge of material to start with. But I’m getting some dross on the back and it doesn’t want to come off. So any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Hypertherm 900 Duramax retrofit torch at 25 amps
18 gauge hot rolled
180 ipm, .0625 pierce and cut height
Price THC 144.5 volts
UCCNC

[Rex]

Looking good
Go to the Hypertherm book the setting work well
You need to speed it up

[jham4x4]

Thanks Rex, I’ll take it up to the book speeds and see what happens. I thought it was going too fast but I guess not.

[weldguy]

I'm with Rex on the speed and also looks like your too high off the material. Pause your torch mid cut and measure with feeler gauge, should be .060". Adjust your THC to achieve this. Good luck!

[DutchPlasma]

I see you are cutting and piercing at the same hight, that's also no good, the ideal pierce hight is usually double the cutting hight.
Yuo will probably have to lower the THC voltage a lot, as you are above the amterial way too much the arc voltage is way to high.
This can cause duty cycle issues, quality issues and isn't very good for the plasma power source as well.

[jham4x4]

The book specs didn't have a pierce height on 18 gauge at 25 amps, and I was getting frustrated so I grabbed some 11 gauge to do some test cuts and those came out pretty good following the book specs.