Piercing: Hand vs Machine Torches

[jdh239]

Just curious, why is my 1250 rated for a thicker pierce with a hand torch than it is with a machine torch? Is that because your roll the hand torch into your pierce?

[mdwalker]

Just curious, why is my 1250 rated for a thicker pierce with a hand torch than it is with a machine torch? Is that because your roll the hand torch into your pierce?

Yes, but there may be other reasons that I'm sure Jim Colt can explain.

[jimcolt]

The torches realistically have exactly the same thickness capability for piercing...but yes, it is because your hand is a six axis robot that can tip the torch at an angle...thereby causing the blowback from hitting the shield and nozzle on the front of the torch.

For mechanized cutting (in most cases) the torch is held perpendicular to the plate. On good quality machines with torch height control systems..the torch will pierce at a recomended pierce height (listed in the Hypertherm manual for different thicknesses) then index down to the cut height for best quality.

Jim Colt Hypertherm