End of Cut - Compressed Air Off Delay

For general topics and questions that do not fit into any of the other categories or forums.
Post Reply
Simko
3 Star Member
3 Star Member
Posts: 265
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2015 9:32 pm
Location: North Central Pennsylvania

End of Cut - Compressed Air Off Delay

Post by Simko »

Making my first cuts today and I have a quick question...

After the cut is complete and the torch goes back to 0,0 it leaves the air on for like 10 seconds and then shuts off.

Is this something that is done to clear all water out of the consumables or is there some setting that i can modify to make this a little shorter.

The splashing isn't so bad while cutting, but this last 10 seconds makes a hell of a mess on the sheet. :!:
Steve

Homebrewed plasma table in the works, NSK linear rails, 3.2:1 belt reduction, CandCNC Plazpak 1A with DTHCIV Ethercut, Hypertherm 85, CommandCNC and SheetCAM
Click here for build post
grindergary
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 623
Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:08 pm
Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada
Contact:

Re: End of Cut - Compressed Air Off Delay

Post by grindergary »

This is to cool the torch head.

gary
4x8 Home made with Precision Plasma LLC. Gantry
4x8 Home Router made with Precision Plasma LLC. Gantry
Candcnc DHCTII Electronics
Hypertherm Powermax 105 machine torch
Sheetcam, Mach 3
Corel Draw 8, V Carve Pro
Miller CTS 280 Miller Mig
User avatar
WyoGreen
4 Star Member
4 Star Member
Posts: 897
Joined: Tue Mar 04, 2014 8:36 pm
Location: Cheyenne, Wyoming

Re: End of Cut - Compressed Air Off Delay

Post by WyoGreen »

You might try putting a small sheet of metal at the 0,0 position to stop the splashing, or move the torch somewhere else after it goes to 0,0.

Steve
Precision Plasma gantry
CommandCNC Linux controller w/Feather Touch & PN200 hand controller
HT-45 plasma cutter
Plate Marker
Router
Laser
jimcolt
5 Star Elite Contributing Member
5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 3087
Joined: Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:18 pm
Location: North Carolina

Re: End of Cut - Compressed Air Off Delay

Post by jimcolt »

The air flow after the cut is called "Post Flow", and is absolutely necessary for consumable parts life. The end of the electrode inside a plasma torch reaches 3100 degrees F while cutting, the post flow cools this between cut cycles. If you could reduce the post flow...you could save air, but use more consumables! Jim Colt Hypertherm
User avatar
Capstone
4 Star Member
4 Star Member
Posts: 1015
Joined: Fri Sep 13, 2013 8:42 am
Location: Washington D.C. Metro
Contact:

Re: End of Cut - Compressed Air Off Delay

Post by Capstone »

I ended up cutting strips of plexi that stand about 8in tall, and putting them on the edges of my water table to avoid the splashing
Phil
It's all relative...
CNC Metal Design
Instagram CNC Metal Design
JD Squared 4x8
HT PM45, Miller 251 MIG
Simko
3 Star Member
3 Star Member
Posts: 265
Joined: Sat Aug 29, 2015 9:32 pm
Location: North Central Pennsylvania

Re: End of Cut - Compressed Air Off Delay

Post by Simko »

Thanks guys!

I started playing PacMan with the torch head using the arrow keys during this post flow period and use the air to blow the water off of the sheet from cutting.

So far I am pretty happy with the water table. I decided to make it a habit to wipe all of my linear rails down with air tool oil at the end of the day. Not sure if it is the right thing to use, but an old millwright told me that it would help keep the rails from rusting and will help keep the linear bearing trucks lubed up.
Steve

Homebrewed plasma table in the works, NSK linear rails, 3.2:1 belt reduction, CandCNC Plazpak 1A with DTHCIV Ethercut, Hypertherm 85, CommandCNC and SheetCAM
Click here for build post
Post Reply

Return to “CNC Plasma Cutters General Forum”