Cutting profiles with plasma

[slim_boy_fat]

The top of this pic shows where I was struggling and the bottom is after changing my grip.

Can you elaborate on how you were holding the torch before & after, please?

 

[MattH]

At first I was holding it in my fist like a drum stick and pressing the button with my thumb.
I changed to holding it like a dinner knife and using my index finger to press the button whilst using my other hand to steady my right and lift some of the downward pressure I was exerting when pressing the button.

My torch has the trigger button on top / on the back of the handle.

 

[eSCHEn]

At first I was holding it in my fist like a drum stick and pressing the button with my thumb.
I changed to holding it like a dinner knife and using my index finger to press the button whilst using my other hand to steady my right and lift some of the downward pressure I was exerting when pressing the button.

My torch has the trigger button on top / on the back of the handle.

Exactly what I did and changed to. I have the same PT31 type as you.

Can you elaborate on how you were holding the torch before & after, please?

Before and after, sans second hand obviously:

 

[Hood]

Exactly what I did and changed to. I have the same PT31 type as you.

Before and after, sans second hand obviously:
View attachment 130485 View attachment 130484

Bloody hell you are good, looks just like a bought faceplate.

 

[eSCHEn]

As the bishop said to the actress, all in the wrist x

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Shouldn't you have gloves on to do that?

Not if it isn't plugged in......

 

[slim_boy_fat]

But you might get dirty

That's for a whole other thread......

 

[julianthegypsy]

Have I missed something? I can't see any dimensions or steel thickness. I have a really good relationship with a company near me as I get all the parts for the stoves I make laser cut, so I get decent rates, and I regularly add in jobs for other people. I do all the drawings myself, which saves a fortune, and they tell me my drawings are always really nice to work with. £100 a pair sounds expensive to me, even allowing for the courier. I'd be interested to see rough dimensions and thickness to get a better idea.

 

[zeppelin builder]

Veering slightly fftopic: , can you explain the difference in nozzles re 'drag' ones. I have extended ones which I've not tried yet [having messed up the few which came with my Cut50 ] but due to compromised sight in one eye have difficulty in maintaining the 2mm gap.

Drag ones sound like the solution, if I can find a cheap enough source for them.

Its called a stand off nozzle you rest it on the job and drag it usualy a cruciform recess on the bottom that has to be in line with your direction of cut .others have a wee clip that fits on the outer shroud you rest on the job
I made up a little gadget with a small ball race secured with a jubillee clip that rests wheelbarry fashion in front of the torch

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Having confirmed that the cut50 is working, but only played a little with different settings for power and air pressure, she's now in her final storing place - anyone would think I'd built the trolley to fit this eventually in mind......

 

[Hood]

Having confirmed that the cut50 is working, but only played a little with different settings for power and air pressure, she's now in her final storing place - anyone would think I'd built the trolley to fit this eventually in mind......

View attachment 130873

You should come down to Arbroath and I will give you some lessons in how to be untidy, that place of yours is a veritable mess of tidiness.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

You should come down to Arbroath and I will give you some lessons in how to be untidy, that place of yours is a veritable mess of tidiness.

It's important when you have limited room to at least try to keep things in order, makes working/finding stuff so much easier.

It's a constant battle though.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

You should swap the welder and plasma so you can load wire without having to unload stuff...

Good thinking.

 

[Hood]

It's important when you have limited room to at least try to keep things in order, makes working/finding stuff so much easier.

It's a constant battle though.

My workshop is probably 5 or more times bigger than yours but I bet I have less space and mine is a mess but I know where everything is, well mostly

 

[zeppelin builder]

Having confirmed that the cut50 is working, but only played a little with different settings for power and air pressure, she's now in her final storing place - anyone would think I'd built the trolley to fit this eventually in mind......

View attachment 130873

Here is my wheelbarrow attachment it runs on the plate ahead of the cut
Its the mk 1 next mod is metal sealed bearing

 

[slim_boy_fat]

On the cut50 front, my mate from the West [he of the milling machine] visited today and had a go with the cutter. He was absolutely amazed at it's capabilities when he had a play. We were still experimenting as I have yet to become fully conversant with the settings etc, although i have pretty much settled on 65psi for the air side of things. Cut through c 2.5/3mm stainless no problem once we got the hang of things.

Now, if I just had a more 'capable' compressor.... But because of space limitations it would have to be upright and be at leastwith a 50ltr, e.g. like this

https://www.toolstop.co.uk/index.ph...MIj_fs0oa92QIVQzPTCh2YxQAAEAkYBCABEgLLcfD_BwE

I believe from my very limited knowledge of such things that the FAD is the most important part of the spec, and oddly enough this is quoted as only(?) 5,4CFM, whereas this cheaper thingy qis rated at 7.3CFM if I'm reading the specs correctly?

Or this , which quotes 8CFM https://www.uktoolcentre.co.uk/prod...MIj_fs0oa92QIVQzPTCh2YxQAAEAkYDCABEgLoYfD_BwE

Or even this, which quotes 7.8CFM which, although marginallymless, includes a tool kit and is free delivery from Italy. I don't need the kit but I'd keep it and flog on all the Lidl stuff to my maste who's said he'll have it.

Looks like a decent price for what's there, and the Seller has good feedback, if it's to believed.....Ebay favours the Buyer in the event of problems these days so I'd have no problem ordering from there.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIR-COMP...141995901657?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

Don't want to go more than this price[ish], but naturally want as much bang for my buck.....

Even considered this to extend the capacity, but the compressor wouldn't yield any higher a CFM Would the combined total of 49ltr run for twice as long, although taking longer to fill. Also would such a set-up be too hard on the motor/pump?

https://www.costco.co.uk/Hardware-D...IP-24-Litre-Air-Receiver-Model-06298/p/210231

Sorry for all the links and Numpty questions, but I do like to know, you know......

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Now, if I just had a more 'capable' compressor.... But because of space limitations it would have to be upright and be at least a 50ltr, e.g. like this

Anyone?

 

[Popcorn]

Is this anywhere near you ?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/air-compressors/compressor/1286382374

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Is this anywhere near you ?
https://www.gumtree.com/p/air-compressors/compressor/1286382374

A full days journey, wouldn't fit in the car and mine needs to be upright

Appreciate the heads-up though.

 

[Jim Davey]

A bit late now but our Binzel ExTrafire 105 amp plasma cutter can cut that profile out of 3 stacked 12mm sheets simultaneously. So for every profile you cut you get 2 extra ‘free’.
That’s a monster timesaver.