[accuratemike]

You could hang an Oxy/Acetylene torch on your plasma cutter for thicker stuff. You would need two batches of code (outlines on the plasma & holes with the torch), but my torch cuts straight clean holes down to 3/8" id. I have to play with some scrap to find the kerf size on every new tip size/thickness I try. But by trial & error I can get it to cut uniform holes every time. As the holes get smaller, pre-heat before pierce becomes a narrower window. Too short and I don't go through, too long and the puddle ends up bigger than the hole. I make notes on pre-heat time, feed rate, tip height, etc. for each tip/thickness combo. As I do more, I have more notes and less trial & error. It is too bad plate isn't more uniform as far as metallurgy, just when I think I have a size nailed, I'll get some plate that reacts differently to being cut. Some plate just plain sucks.

Heck, once you try the torch on thicker stuff, you may use the plasma less. My $150 hand torch kit claims 5" max. Not that I care, I doubt I'll be cutting much 5" at home, but it teaches 1/2" a lesson . MIKE

PS, my torch button pusher involved about $50 in parts. Depending on your machine it may not be too hard to retro fit a hand torch onto it. I've seen alot of pics of commercial machines with plasma/Oxy torches on them.

[Blindchicken]

I have thought about mounting my vertical cutting torch to my machine but with my water table it make an impressive mess. If it wasn't for a few hundred gallons of water I would use the flame cutter a lot more than I do now.

-Mark

[accuratemike]

You've got me wondering, what will the torch do to the water different than the plasma ? I have seen Oxy tables with water. I was going to build one for mine (eventually). Not many psi involved (maybe 25psi Oxy). I think that it would be similarly messy, either way. I have used a small pan of water under parts before, no ill results. I'd say, "Mount the torch !" MIKE

[Blindchicken]

It was not the PSI but the volume that caused the problem. It was spraying up so high that it was soaking my electronics. I usually run the material underwater for the plasma and, while it does spray, it is not all that bad unless it is right next to the edge of the table.

-Mark

[accuratemike]

Ahhhhh...UNDER water. I understand. MIKE

[Blindchicken]

It is something like this:



-Mark

[freak_brain]

Mark/Blindchicken,

I was totally convinced you knew what you were talking about after seeing your picture. I thought, look at that...all that stuff he's cutting and then.....I seen hearts, he's cutting out hearts!!!! That's not manly, that was a serious kick in the (nuts) .

Ok, seriously

If you had it to do over would you have got a hypertherm plasma cutter? How well does it cut, besides the holes?

-Allen

[Blindchicken]

Hearts... Well another business I own is Wild Shadows and it does garden art and art metal. It really comes down to having the machine make whatever I can sell.

If it redeems me at all, the aluminum brackets are for Freightliner and the cutouts on the floor are for the off-road racing suspensions I design and build.

As for the plasma, I have only ever had one problem with it. What I didn't like was the machine torch (in picture). I upgraded to a Thermal Dynamics one-torch and you wouldn't believe the improvement. I also did a major upgrade on all the guides on the machine to make it track straight. The pic below shows the new machine tracks and a grill for my pickup I made afterwards. I did not have near the control before the upgrade to make something like that.

-Mark
www.blindchickenracing.com

[freak_brain]

ok, that does redeem you just a tad...

I was actually considering a thermal dynamics machine. It's around the same price.

I can see why you upgraded if you didn't have that control before, makes perfect sense.

Thanks for the help
-Allen

[x6xtyx9x]

Prices on ThermaDyne and machine torches?

[massajamesb]

Prices on ThermaDyne and machine torches?

I got my Cutmaster 50 for about 900, and my machine torch off Ebay for 125.