My understanding is, it will make very little difference what type of
material you are cutting. There is relatively little heat involved with
plasma cutting.

If anything, the electrical conductivity of the metal (or resistance) would
have more of an effect. Aluminum and copper being better conductors (lower
resistance) than steel or stainless, using MY theory, would cut better.

This is just my hypothesis, FWIW.

I have a plasma rig that is rated at 3/8 but I cut up to 3/4" stainless or
aluminum but it is slow and not very pretty.

Steve

"Grant Erwin" wrote in message
...
When the spec says a plasma cutter can cut 3/8", does that mean it can cut
3/8" in any conductive material? Aluminum? Stainless? Or does the rated
thickness vary with material the way it does for a punch or shear?

I have a 25A plasma cutter with which I cut 1/4" steel all the time, and I
want to try it on 1/4" aluminum ..

GWE