plasma advice plz

[tinman123]

has the torch got a drag tip on it or an ordinary one because if its ordinary your not going to be dragging it too far..

 

[gordon stephenson]

What thickness are you cutting Ned? Drag tip as you probably know has + shaped shallow grooves on the contact surface.

 

[ned]

honestly I havent looked at it. I dont know the difference. I havn't really had steel to play with so I only just used it the once to verify it did work.

But, I'm forking out 170 euros tomo on an 8x4 sheet of 8mm plate steel, so I'm going to have a good go at it at the weekend.
I'll take a pic of the tip and post it up tomo.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

What thickness are you cutting Ned? Drag tip as you probably know has + shaped shallow grooves on the contact surface.

As I understand it if you can buy Stand Off's for your torch it's designed to used with the torch slightly off the sheet.
My torch has no way of fitting a Stand Off so it's a contact torch.

Just to add I've had my Plasma for about 5 years, gets used regularly and I've only used about 10 sets of consumables in that time.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Some of the standard stand off attachments are a double C shape that just fit around the O/D of the torch, Anything homemade that will give around 3mm stand off will do.

 

[Robotstar5]

You could make yourself one of these

 

[ned]

that is an excellent looking device Robotstar, I really like that. I imagine a lot of the people that would buy a plasma are 'make stuff' types,
there is quite a range of ideas online for plasma jigs.

heres the tip thats fitted to mine, and the consumables that came with it. Dunno if its a drag tip, will have a browse are around and see.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Hi, Ned, yes, that is hypertherm drag tip,
P.S. Some of the powermac 30 consumables fit the 45 for even finer cut line up to a max of 30 amps

 

[tinman123]

yes, thats a drag tip so happy days.

what psi are you running it at?
and what thickness was the plate you cut?

 

[Robotstar5]

Can also be called a castle tip

 

[gordon stephenson]

Cant remember the air pressure off hand, but you don't need to. the Powermax 45 has a built in setting system, 3 led lights, One for under pressure and one for over pressure. the centre green one illuminates when the pressure is correct with the air flowing,

 

[tinman123]

indeed it could be but seeing since i dont have a moat and such to go with it and all i ever do is drag it, i think ill keep my original name for it.

 

[Robotstar5]

Cant remember the air pressure off hand, but you don't need to. the Powermax 45 has a built in setting system, 3 led lights, One for under pressure and one for over pressure. the centre green one illuminates when the pressure is correct with the air flowing,

Shown on right of the control panel

 

[tinman123]

Cant remember the air pressure off hand, but you don't need to. the Powermax 45 has a built in setting system, 3 led lights, One for under pressure and one for over pressure. the centre green one illuminates when the pressure is correct with the air flowing,

i never got any further than demo'ing one and ended up buying a different make in the end but the 45 i did use could sever cut 20-25mm and cut 10-12mm clean.
the op's one is new and he is just geting used to it but personally id be liking to see a cleaner cut when he dose.

unless of course thats 20mm stuff he cut in the pic, if it is all is good.

 

[ned]

Ha, no that was someone with no practice ever trying to use a plasma cutter. Fear not I'll try do better in the future.
Its kind of a ferocious thing though, so it will take me a while to get comfortable with it I'd say. Comfortable relaxed and calm.

Good stuff that its the correct tip, nice one!

 

[Robotstar5]

Ha, no that was someone with no practice ever trying to use a plasma cutter. Fear not I'll try do better in the future.
Its kind of a ferocious thing though, so it will take me a while to get comfortable with it I'd say. Comfortable relaxed and calm.

Good stuff that its the correct tip, nice one!

There was a DVD with the Powermax 45 I had showing how to use it, there may be videos on the Hypertherm website?

 

[ned]

its there in the box, ill take a look at it.

 

[skotl]

Ned - when you get stuck in, don't be afraid to use a piece of wood as a straight edge. It will get a bit scorchy, and won't last forever (maybe 10-20 cuts) but it's damn sight cheaper than metal and an easy way to get a straight edge when cutting.

Have fun!

 

[ned]

cheers willdo Skotl, good tip. You know I got this thing to make that bumper yeah? lol
I got a loan of a compressor from a mate. I'm getting my own when I get paid, paying 370 for a pretty nice one, belt driven. At that stage I'll be nearly 1400 euros into that damn bumper! Nah kidding, I wanted a plasma anyway.

So I watched the DVD, and as it turns out its online already. This is the entire English section of that DVD (there are about 8 other languages on the DVD)

 

[ned]

so i had a bit of a panic attack this morning, went out and fired up the bits and got an error led. So after an hour of panicking i figured out the regulator on the compressor was broken and not enough pressure was getting to the plasma. So i took off the regulator and then things were fine, ive ordered another regulator as this is my buddies compressor.

This compressor will not keep up with the pmx 45. I can cut for about 20- 30 seconds and then I have to wait for 3 mins for it to build pressure again. Very dissatisfying.

24 liter 1.5hp, wasnt able to find other specs on it

The compressor I was thinking of buying is this one, ye think it will cope? According to the specs it ought to...

clarke boxer 14/100

230V, 50Hz - 1 Phase, 3hp Compressor
100 Litre Air Receiver
14cfm Air Displacement
10bar (145 psi) Maximum Working Pressure
Dimensions: 1070x475x780mm
Weight: 67kg

I made some cuts anyway, eventually, made some mistakes but in the main it was okay. Still trying to get the hand movement / co-ordination smooth, had some success, still need more practice

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Guys does anyone know of a cheaper alternative to the hypertherm air filter?

I dont fancy spending 200 euros on a filter if there are cheaper alternatives, of the same design out there