plasma cutting technique.

[Psychosaffa]

i have used my plasma cutters a bit now but never manage good cuts in anything larger than 3mm.
i have a R-tech 30 plasma and a thermal dynamics cutmaster 38. initially i thought the R-tech was rubbish, but now think its my technique.
yesterday i managed a few clean cuts in 6mm plate, but today it just wasent happening.
i cleaned the metal as best i could, but it would only cut halfway and never straight through.
R-tech claim a clean 8mm cut, but it just not happening with me.
any advice is really appreciated.

 

[mfletch]

Have you got a clean air supply any moister effects the cut is your compressor big enough is the pressure set right

I once seen a problem on youtube and the torch was leaking air so there was not enough air to do the cut

 

[Psychosaffa]

thanks mfletch
have a 150L compressor, but no separate water trap.
is the water trap on the regulator not adequate enough?
how important is standoff if it has a drag tip fitted?

im confident that there is enough air, as it worked amazing yesterday.

 

[mfletch]

you can do both drag the tip or just have a small gap

One other thing is are you holding the torch at too much of a angle as this makes the metal thicker

 

[Psychosaffa]

im keeping the torch as upright as i can so that definitely is not the problem.

 

[Spark plug]

When I got my plasma I couldn't cut anything above 3mm either, but it came with practice now I can achieve a clean cut on 8mm even tho the spec say clean cut up to 6mm.

 

[mfletch]

The only other thing is if your traveling to fast or there is a air leak somewhere

 

[Psychosaffa]

so what is it that you are doing differently now spark plug ?

 

[Spark plug]

so what is it that you are doing differently now spark plug ?

I use a off cut of 25x50 box as a straight edge and to steady the torch, witch helps significantly if like me you don't have a steady hand. After that It all seems to be about keeping a very smooth steady travel speed for the thickness material your cutting. for example I can cut 1mm at about 50mm/second but 8mm may only be 1-2mm/second.

Also I found that I need to attach the earth directly to the material being cut, if I attach it to my bench, for some reason it dose not seem to cut a as well.

 

[Psychosaffa]

cheers, ill try to get a better earth.

the other thing is that the air line is crazy long!
im going to try upping the pressure at the compressor side and seeing if that makes a difference. otherwise i might purchase a new air line and seeing if that makes a difference.

 

[lshigham]

cheers, ill try to get a better earth.

the other thing is that the air line is crazy long!
im going to try upping the pressure at the compressor side and seeing if that makes a difference. otherwise i might purchase a new air line and seeing if that makes a difference.

You need to get a regulator on the plasma to be sure you are getting the correct 55-60psi there

 

[Psychosaffa]

there is a regulator on both plasmas and at the compressor side.
can i have propper pressure but not enough flow?

 

[Spark plug]

Open the regulator on the compressor up full and set the regulator on the plasma to 55-60psi

 

[lshigham]

Set the pressure with the plasma going too, you are probably getting some serious pressure drop if you have a long hose

 

[Spark plug]

How long is the air line and what is the bore diameter?

 

[doubleboost]

If the pressure drops below 35 psi on the R-Tech 50 the machine will not work (built in safety)

 

[Bristolbulldog]

As a last resort call r-tech and ask to take it in. They will undoubtedly bench test it with you and show you.

R-tech will bend over backwards to help you.

 

[Psychosaffa]

As a last resort call r-tech and ask to take it in. They will undoubtedly bench test it with you and show you.

R-tech will bend over backwards to help you.

that i know having dealt with them in the past.
im confident that its technique, prep, or my air supply and not the tools.

 

[Bristolbulldog]

I was getting really poor cuts with my versa cut. I upped the psi to 60, and drag the tip along the work. Getting much better results now.

Your not using one of those coiled hard plastic type airlines are you?

They have a tiny bore size is all .

 

[Psychosaffa]

I upped the pressure as advised and the difference is night and day! Am now getting clean cuts in 6mm plate on half power.

Thanks for all the advice.