plasma cutting Aluminum

[Creepy]

had to make a big hole. first time trying the plasma on Al.

it leaves a pretty rough finish. but cuts really easy. i found the arc didn't want to stay on. some of it was splatting back and getting on the tip.

then i increased the gap to about 1/4" from 1/8" and it worked better. had to hold the tip away from the surface more than for steel.

(this thing is just for my buddy's woodstove)

[Hawkes]

Nice. Didn't think Aluminum would stand up to woodstove heat although it is thick.

Paul

[justajeep]

You cut steel with a 1/8" gap Jan? Ideal is supposed to be 1/16. That's what the roller guide you can get has. I found I needed a bit more gap for al too.

I just have some .050" AL by my wood stove. It's only melted just a bit in one spot (and it's very close to the stove there). Pretty good seeing the stove had been red hot a few times. ;D

[Bobbyxj]

I've been using the plasma like crazy, whats this roller guide you are talking about, sounds like something I need having bit of trouble maintaining consistent distance, dont have the nack of it yet but I've been cutting all kinds of things, do you guys just keep it to the specified air pressure, do you turn amps way down for thin material.

back to topic

nice hole there jan , I havnt tried al yet!

[justajeep]

It's a little guide with 2 wheels that goes on the tip (the screw on cap). You can get circle cutting guides to go with it too. Keeping a gap is more important for tip life than cut quality, at least on thinner material.

I've never touched the regulator since I first set it. See no need to. I turn the amps down if I think of it when cutting sheet metal, or if I want to just cut through one layer.

[Creepy]

i turn amps down for thinner stuff.

turned up all the way, sometimes its too fast. i turn it down to slow down how fast i have to move. but only if you are cutting thinner stuff. you'll need the amps for cutting at max. capacity.

in regards to regulator - plasma will error out if not enough air.

[oilburner]

Cutting really thin Al i found leaving the ground off worked great

Might just work with a larger machine though, I have a hypertherm 600 and even turned to lowest setting still blasted a big hole where you start.

thaught it might be useful info...

[Creepy]

i did that by mistake - it would only fire the starting arc and would cut out after a few seconds.

supposed to be hard on tips. i never fooled with it to try more, your bigger machine might be able to handle it!

(i found a 1/2 blocked airline !!! too, that was fawking me. i replaced all my air lines fitting from the compressor the other day, it works sooo much better. that my have been the problem.)

it was making my air pressure drop thru the cut, it would get shittier thru the cut until it quit.

it was like that cutting the Al. i'd like to try again, cause frankly, i wasn't too impressed witht he cut quality. it worked, but not so nice.

[oilburner]

AL is pretty crappy to cut anyhow...I find the cut almost "hairy" easy fix with a quick rub of the grinder at least

...a good DRY air supply is a definate must though, these things are volume pigs

Don