Plasma Cutting Aluminium?

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I have an old IforWilliams bed cover that came of my Hilux that I want to fashion into an enclosure for my compressor.

It's too thick for my Double Sheers, i can't fathom how I'd support it to use a circular saw, and using a grinder would take a long time.

I know it's technically possible to cut aluminium with a plasma, but have no experience at all.

Is it possible with air, or do I need nitrogen or argon, and what sort of amperage for 3mm alu?

 

[Morrisman]

I’ve cut aluminium with a plasma, just using the normal air from my compressor. I try to use as low amperage as will make the cut neatly.

 

[Brad93]

I have an old IforWilliams bed cover that came of my Hilux that I want to fashion into an enclosure for my compressor.

It's too thick for my Double Sheers, i can't fathom how I'd support it to use a circular saw, and using a grinder would take a long time.

I know it's technically possible to cut aluminium with a plasma, but have no experience at all.

Is it possible with air, or do I need nitrogen or argon, and what sort of amperage for 3mm alu?

just use as normal more amps, longer to get up to temperature then move fast

 

[oldbikedavey]

I've done it, but the ally plate became distinctly softer than was previously the case, a bit like ultra lightweight lead sheet, really.
Not that it was anything special to start with, but resembling the physical characteristics of sheets of burger cheese is a bit worrying....

 

[Robotstar5]

We cut 20mm aluminium fixture plates with plasma, but had to hire a big machine as our workshop machine wasn't up to the job.
Just ran it from the normal factory air supply.

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Boom, thanks everyone!

I will have to get on that shortly.

 

[Hood]

I cut Alu almost daily on my plasma table. As has been said just compressed air will work fine, it is all I use.
I cut everything at the full 80Amps of my plasma and adjust the speed accordingly but if it is handheld plasma then you may need to adjust the current depending on the thickness and how fast you can move.