Well, I've just got my plasma cutter up and running. It's a 4x8 table, gantry kit from Precision Plasma and Bladerunner/Dragoncut 300-4 system from CandCnc. Using SheetCam and Mach3. Hypertherm Powermax 85. Here is the first part that I cut on this machine from 1/4" steel:
Settings are all straight from the book using the 45A shielded consumables at 45A setting on the cutter. Overall, I was very pleased. Really, the only issue I have on this piece is a bit of taper on the straight cuts. The taper runs wide at the bottom of the cut all the way around the part......not slanted one way like the torch is not square. Anything I can do to remedy this?
Next, I tried to cut the same part out of some .040" alum. Used the settings right out of the book (speed, cut height, pierce height, etc) and all it would do is blow a big hole in it on the first pierce and the torch would turn off and stop. Finally turned the amperage down from 45 to 32 and got this:
While not terrible, I would like to get this to be a bit cleaner cut......especially in places like where the ends of the slotted hole are odd-shaped, and you can see where it appears the gantry is vibrating around the corners and making the sides wavy.......and small hole not quite round. I spent about 2 hours playing with the accel settings of the X and Y in the motor tuning, but this is the best I can get out of it......which leads me to believe that my only option is to slow down the cut speed. I'm already concerned that running the 45A nozzle at 32A is going to cut the consumable life short, right? And if I turn the speed down, I will have to also turn down the amperage even farther? I have the Finecut consumables here, but there is no settings listed in the manual for aluminum with them. Could I use these....would they help?
Please keep in mind I'm new to ALL of this.......plasma cutting, sheetcam, mach...pretty much this whole process is new to me, so any and all suggestions will be appreciated! Thanks!