Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Looking for info on Plasmacam and plasma cutting
Cross posted to rec.crafts.metalworking for Ernie etc
On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 12:34:19 GMT, I AM WHO I AM wrote: Has anyone used or heard anything about the Plasmacam machine. plasmacam.com I am installing one in a machine shop in Ontario Canada. I was called in when the owners could not get it running properly. I have a recent computer background and a past mechanical background but no welding or machine shop experience. The owner of the shop here ran a large CNC system for Caterpillar until they took off for Mexico. The other guy is a real good beer drinker. The main problem right now is trying to get good clean cuts. Even though their website does not list it and in fact suggests avoiding it, the phone support person says the Thermaldynamic Cut Master 75 which we are using is one of the most popular models in use and will do the job (this I find very strange). We get slag build up on the bottom of the cuts and on top. I have experimented with different currents on the plasma cutter and different air pressures and different cut heights and different pierce heights and it's still not great. Does anyone get nice clean cuts like their video shows? I am working with 1/8 inch sheets of steel. I have done the setup of the perice height adjustment (z shift) and the cut height (Arc voltage shift), about 40 times. Every time it comes out slightly different every time. Next I would like to do the X and Y location adjustment but the 1 inch square I cut for it is just too rough to measure properly, to do this accurately. I am just now thinking that maybe I should make it a 2 or 3 inch square and try that? Can someone give me some general ideas on Plasma cutting so I can try to get this torch cutting properly? Lets say for 1/8 steel, What is generally the best pierce height above the sheet? I have tried .1 to .4 and spots in between. The Plasmacam guy suggested twice the material thickness, in this case .250. What is the best cut height? Is it very close to the material say .02 above? What current should I use. 40 amps and below does not seem to pierce the material, but maybe I have to increase the pierce time?? Does too high a current create the slag? What about air pressure? I have tried from around 65 to 100 lbS with no difference that I can see. What is the best size of torch tip for 1/8 material? Plasmacams support is not 24 hour like they say and it takes them 24 hours to call back after you finally get a hold of someone (maybe that is what they mean). Thermaldynamic is not interested in helping unles we buy a machine torch instead of the hand held. Any help I can get here would be very much appreciated. I will check back tonight. Thanks Johnnie "This device is provided without warranty of any kind as to reliability, accuracy, existence or otherwise or fitness for any particular purpose and Bioalchemic Products specifically does not warrant, guarantee, imply or make any representations as to its merchantability for any particular purpose and furthermore shall have no liability for or responsibility to you or any other person, entity or deity with respect to any loss or damage whatsoever caused by this device or object or by any attempts to destroy it by hammering it against a wall or dropping it into a deep well or any other means whatsoever and moreover asserts that you indicate your acceptance of this agreement or any other agreement that may he substituted at any time by coming within five miles of the product or observing it through large telescopes or by any other means because you are such an easily cowed moron who will happily accept arrogant and unilateral conditions on a piece of highly priced garbage that you would not dream of accepting on a bag of dog biscuits and is used solely at your own risk.' |