Water Table Pan Depth vs. Cut Amperage

[urbnsr]

Hello,

I currently have a Longevity 80 amp plasma cutter and a water pan 2-1/2" deep. Although I have cut very little at 80 amps and mostly at 40-65 amps, the bottom of the pan doesn't show signs of heating.

I am in the middle of re-configuring my (now hobby) CNC table a bit and that means a new water pan. Ideally, I will upgrade to a Hypertherm if this current setup will prove somewhat profitable. I am suspicious that a Hypertherm cutter has a more capable power supply than the unit I am using now and I wonder if my 80 amps now is not giving me the true picture. Should I go deeper on the water pan. Under-table clearance would start suffering if I go too much deeper without some (more) reconfiguring. Not against that, but if I don't need deeper, I'd stay the course.

Also - Go with stainless steel pan or remake with 10ga mild steel that I use now?

Any input appreciated. Thank You!
Paul

[grindergary]

I was told that any air plasma eg Hypertherm 105 will not cut deep enough to hit the bottom of your pan. I have just cut 1" material with 105 Amps and 2 1/2" deep pan with no problems.

Last week when I cleaned out the pan, I sprayed the pan down and it was clean to the point there was only a black layer on it and it came off very easy in places. My pan is only 12 guage plate.

Gary

[Stout]

Mine is .250" mild steel with .375" removable frames for the slats. It's 5" deep and the water will get pretty warm after cutting .375 for 4 hours or so. The frames are 0.75" below the water and have not cut marks on them.

[KeeYaw]

Stay tuned.....Jim Colt will drop in with suggestion soon. Jim has been with Hypertherm for 35+ yrs. He started there at age 5. Lol

[urbnsr]

Thanks! I appreciate all the insight.

Paul

[Metriccar]

What kind of edge quality are you getting with the Longevity? I would think most of your improvements would be related to smoother, dross free edges, especially on thinner materials. I've also talked to people who say the Cutmaster by Thermal Dynamics is also a very goo plasma cutter, especially on thinner materials, for edge quality.

[urbnsr]

Edge quality does vary. But there are enough variables that I can't say one thing could fix MY issues. I am satisfied with what I have for what I have in it, but still...

This is a piece of 3/8" aluminum I cut earlier. All I did before the picture was to turn the plate over.

[jimcolt]

2-1/2" deep water will protect the pan with any plasma up to about 260 amps. Worst case, you will boil the water (212 degrees). I use water and downdraft in my tables.....I have a 6" pan of water with the water surface 8" below the bottom of the metal being cut. Downdraft puls air around the edges of the water pan. Advantage? Water traps 80% or so of the plasma smoke, the downdraft takes care of the rest. A smaller air flow rate and no water splash (rust, water on moving machine parts).

Jim Colt

Hello,

I currently have a Longevity 80 amp plasma cutter and a water pan 2-1/2" deep. Although I have cut very little at 80 amps and mostly at 40-65 amps, the bottom of the pan doesn't show signs of heating.

I am in the middle of re-configuring my (now hobby) CNC table a bit and that means a new water pan. Ideally, I will upgrade to a Hypertherm if this current setup will prove somewhat profitable. I am suspicious that a Hypertherm cutter has a more capable power supply than the unit I am using now and I wonder if my 80 amps now is not giving me the true picture. Should I go deeper on the water pan. Under-table clearance would start suffering if I go too much deeper without some (more) reconfiguring. Not against that, but if I don't need deeper, I'd stay the course.

Also - Go with stainless steel pan or remake with 10ga mild steel that I use now?

Any input appreciated. Thank You!
Paul

[urbnsr]

Great - Thanks Jim and all. I appreciate your time.

Paul