Title say it all.

I'm past the point that I can chomp parts with a chop saw and grind/file
a smooth edge.

Some of these parts have interior curves that make that impossible to
any real degree. Even with my foolish stubborn streak!

So?

Would someone recommend a small and relatively inexpensive plasma cutter
that can handle up to 1/8" stainless?

Preferably 110 VAC if that's possible.

Richard
--
(remove the X to email)

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
John Wayne

cavelamb himself wrote:

Title say it all.

I'm past the point that I can chomp parts with a chop saw and grind/file
a smooth edge.

Some of these parts have interior curves that make that impossible to
any real degree. Even with my foolish stubborn streak!

So?

Would someone recommend a small and relatively inexpensive plasma cutter
that can handle up to 1/8" stainless?

I think the Hypertherm Powermax line is the standard recommendation
these days. Check their site to see which will do the job. I know my
Powermax 1000 would certainly do it.

On Mar 28, 1:22*am, cavelamb himself wrote:
Title say it all.

I'm past the point that I can chomp parts with a chop saw and grind/file
a smooth edge.

Some of these parts have interior curves that make that impossible to
any real degree. *Even with my foolish stubborn streak!

So?

Would someone recommend a small and relatively inexpensive plasma cutter
that can handle up to 1/8" stainless?

Preferably 110 VAC if that's possible.

Richard
--
(remove the X to email)

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *John Wayne

Can't tell you a thing about plasma cutters, but in case that plan
goes awry, I think generally with a lot of stainless projects you can
move past trying to get a perfectly smooth/clean edge by just crimping
a metal, rubber or other material "ridge" over the rough edges. It's
cheaper than buying major tools that you might not need again and you
might really find something that adds to a quality look in your
finished project.

Try it before you buy it.

I know, its easier to sit in your tighty whitey's and type at a
computer, but most real welding supply stores will actually let you
try out a plasma cutter.

And with stainless, its a good idea to see what you will get.

Because of the alloy content of stainless, its a lot harder to get a
perfect, slag free edge on it with an off the rack plasma cutter.
The machine cuts stainless just fine- but it leaves a dark gray
oxidized slag on the back that is sometimes very hard to grind off.
For simple shapes, notches, and large radius curves, this is not a big
problem- you hit it with a grinder, and then touch it up with a flap
disc of alumina zirconia, and it cleans up. But it does take some time
to do this.

However, if you are doing complicated shapes, with multiple interior
cutouts, expect to do some time with a die grinder, with expensive
carbide burrs.

In industry, they get around this by using Hi-Definition Plaama units
(these start at $10,000) and then, instead of shop compressed air,
they use an inert gas like argon, or at least a no oxygen gas like
nitrogen. Expensive, in other words.
Or, they use a laser or waterjet. Again, intial setup costs of
$100,000 to a quarter million.

So given your budget, its probably gonna be hand held plasma.
I would not buy anything but Hypertherm or Plasma Dynamics.

But like I said, go to a welding supply store with your own sample
material in hand, and cut a few pieces, and see for yourself what you
get, and how hard it is to clean it up.

Might be, you decide instead to scour ebay til you find a killer deal
on a big 36" Do-all bandsaw.

Whoops- I meant THERMAL DYNAMICS.

HYPERTHERM, OR THERMAL DYNAMICS.

these are the two companies that make the plasma cutters that every
serious industrial shop uses.

cavelamb himself wrote:

Pete C. wrote:

cavelamb himself wrote:

Title say it all.

I'm past the point that I can chomp parts with a chop saw and grind/file
a smooth edge.

Some of these parts have interior curves that make that impossible to
any real degree. Even with my foolish stubborn streak!

So?

Would someone recommend a small and relatively inexpensive plasma cutter
that can handle up to 1/8" stainless?


I think the Hypertherm Powermax line is the standard recommendation
these days. Check their site to see which will do the job. I know my
Powermax 1000 would certainly do it.

Interesting machine ya got there!

Product overview
The Powermax1000 plasma cutting system cuts over 50% faster than any
other competitor tested on 3/4" (19 mm) mild steel.

Hand torch cut capacity
Recommended: up to 3/4" (19 mm) at cutting speeds of 22" (559 mm) per minute
Maximum: up to 1" (25 mm) at cutting speeds of 12" (304 mm) per minute
Severance: up to 1-1/4" (32 mm) at slow speed

Yea, it's scary fast on sheet metal, basically as fast as you can move
the torch.

cavelamb himself wrote:

Ries wrote:

Whoops- I meant THERMAL DYNAMICS.

HYPERTHERM, OR THERMAL DYNAMICS.

these are the two companies that make the plasma cutters that every
serious industrial shop uses.



Thanks Rees.

I'll pull on my jeans and go visit a real welding supply store.
And take a couple of pieces of metal with me to carve on.

In the end, this might actually be something that has to be shopped out
rather than done in house (ok, in garage)

What kind of time frames? Is it something that you can make template
guides for? I'm not all that far away (up in Denison) and my PM1K has
plenty of idle time. I haven't got it CNC'd yet, but that is on the
project list too.

Pete C.

Pete C. wrote:

cavelamb himself wrote:

Title say it all.

I'm past the point that I can chomp parts with a chop saw and grind/file
a smooth edge.

Some of these parts have interior curves that make that impossible to
any real degree. Even with my foolish stubborn streak!

So?

Would someone recommend a small and relatively inexpensive plasma cutter
that can handle up to 1/8" stainless?


I think the Hypertherm Powermax line is the standard recommendation
these days. Check their site to see which will do the job. I know my
Powermax 1000 would certainly do it.


Interesting machine ya got there!

Product overview
The Powermax1000 plasma cutting system cuts over 50% faster than any
other competitor tested on 3/4" (19 mm) mild steel.

Hand torch cut capacity
Recommended: up to 3/4" (19 mm) at cutting speeds of 22" (559 mm) per minute
Maximum: up to 1" (25 mm) at cutting speeds of 12" (304 mm) per minute
Severance: up to 1-1/4" (32 mm) at slow speed



Richard
--
(remove the X to email)

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
John Wayne

schizobeck wrote:

On Mar 28, 1:22 am, cavelamb himself wrote:

Title say it all.

I'm past the point that I can chomp parts with a chop saw and grind/file
a smooth edge.

Some of these parts have interior curves that make that impossible to
any real degree. Even with my foolish stubborn streak!

So?

Would someone recommend a small and relatively inexpensive plasma cutter
that can handle up to 1/8" stainless?

Preferably 110 VAC if that's possible.

Richard
--
(remove the X to email)

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
John Wayne


Can't tell you a thing about plasma cutters, but in case that plan
goes awry, I think generally with a lot of stainless projects you can
move past trying to get a perfectly smooth/clean edge by just crimping
a metal, rubber or other material "ridge" over the rough edges. It's
cheaper than buying major tools that you might not need again and you
might really find something that adds to a quality look in your
finished project.


I certaintly appreciate the thought because I too am leary of spending a
lot of money on expensive tools that may not pay their way.

But not in this case.

These are parts for yacht type sail boats.
Appearance is important.
As well as smoothing the edges of stress risers.

I've just gone as far as I can with a chop saw and hand tools.
Now it's time to get serious about this stuff.

Question is - what will it cost verses what will it do for me.


Richard
--
(remove the X to email)

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
John Wayne

Ries wrote:

Whoops- I meant THERMAL DYNAMICS.

HYPERTHERM, OR THERMAL DYNAMICS.

these are the two companies that make the plasma cutters that every
serious industrial shop uses.



Thanks Rees.

I'll pull on my jeans and go visit a real welding supply store.
And take a couple of pieces of metal with me to carve on.

In the end, this might actually be something that has to be shopped out
rather than done in house (ok, in garage)


Richard

--
(remove the X to email)

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
John Wayne

cavelamb himself wrote:

Pete C. wrote:
cavelamb himself wrote:

Ries wrote:


Whoops- I meant THERMAL DYNAMICS.

HYPERTHERM, OR THERMAL DYNAMICS.

these are the two companies that make the plasma cutters that every
serious industrial shop uses.



Thanks Rees.

I'll pull on my jeans and go visit a real welding supply store.
And take a couple of pieces of metal with me to carve on.

In the end, this might actually be something that has to be shopped out
rather than done in house (ok, in garage)


What kind of time frames? Is it something that you can make template
guides for? I'm not all that far away (up in Denison) and my PM1K has
plenty of idle time. I haven't got it CNC'd yet, but that is on the
project list too.

Pete C.

I'm retired and grown plumb lazy these days, Pete.
I don't do much of anything fast any more.
So no pressure on time frame.

What would a template need to be made from?

Unless it needs to withstand a number of passes, I expect regular 1/8"
masonite or similar would be fine. Probably get slightly charred, but
the cut speed is so fast I don't expect it would go up in flames. The
chart in the manual indicates that optimum cut speed for 10ga (3.4mm)
stainless at 60A is 159 IPM (4039 mm/min).

The shield on the plasma torch is 7/16" OD, and the kerf is probably
between 1/16"-3/32".


I doubt CNC would be all that handy in this case.
Only a couple dozen parts needed.

Perhaps not, but it's typically easier generate some G code than to
calculate and cut a template.


But, yes, I'd be real happy to get 'em cut out!

Always good to make progress on the projects...

Pete C. wrote:
cavelamb himself wrote:

Ries wrote:


Whoops- I meant THERMAL DYNAMICS.

HYPERTHERM, OR THERMAL DYNAMICS.

these are the two companies that make the plasma cutters that every
serious industrial shop uses.



Thanks Rees.

I'll pull on my jeans and go visit a real welding supply store.
And take a couple of pieces of metal with me to carve on.

In the end, this might actually be something that has to be shopped out
rather than done in house (ok, in garage)


What kind of time frames? Is it something that you can make template
guides for? I'm not all that far away (up in Denison) and my PM1K has
plenty of idle time. I haven't got it CNC'd yet, but that is on the
project list too.

Pete C.

I'm retired and grown plumb lazy these days, Pete.
I don't do much of anything fast any more.
So no pressure on time frame.

What would a template need to be made from?

I doubt CNC would be all that handy in this case.
Only a couple dozen parts needed.

But, yes, I'd be real happy to get 'em cut out!

Richard
--
(remove the X to email)

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
John Wayne

On Mar 28, 3:58*pm, cavelamb himself wrote:
Pete C. wrote:...
How about send me a email - cuz I can't figure out yours.
(you are safe from the spam bots!)

Richard

Using plain old Google Groups, I get:

aux3(dot)doh(dot)4(at)snet(dot)net

Punctuation masked to protect the allegedly innocent.

Jim Wilkins

Pete C. wrote:

cavelamb himself wrote:

Pete C. wrote:

cavelamb himself wrote:


Ries wrote:



Whoops- I meant THERMAL DYNAMICS.

HYPERTHERM, OR THERMAL DYNAMICS.

these are the two companies that make the plasma cutters that every
serious industrial shop uses.



Thanks Rees.

I'll pull on my jeans and go visit a real welding supply store.
And take a couple of pieces of metal with me to carve on.

In the end, this might actually be something that has to be shopped out
rather than done in house (ok, in garage)


What kind of time frames? Is it something that you can make template
guides for? I'm not all that far away (up in Denison) and my PM1K has
plenty of idle time. I haven't got it CNC'd yet, but that is on the
project list too.

Pete C.

I'm retired and grown plumb lazy these days, Pete.
I don't do much of anything fast any more.
So no pressure on time frame.

What would a template need to be made from?


Unless it needs to withstand a number of passes, I expect regular 1/8"
masonite or similar would be fine. Probably get slightly charred, but
the cut speed is so fast I don't expect it would go up in flames. The
chart in the manual indicates that optimum cut speed for 10ga (3.4mm)
stainless at 60A is 159 IPM (4039 mm/min).

The shield on the plasma torch is 7/16" OD, and the kerf is probably
between 1/16"-3/32".


I doubt CNC would be all that handy in this case.
Only a couple dozen parts needed.


Perhaps not, but it's typically easier generate some G code than to
calculate and cut a template.


But, yes, I'd be real happy to get 'em cut out!


Always good to make progress on the projects...


How about send me a email - cuz I can't figure out yours.
(you are safe from the spam bots!)

Richard
--
(remove the X to email)
it's just plain old earth link

Now just why the HELL do I have to press 1 for English?
John Wayne

The Stainless is a vague term. Is it hard chrome stainless ?

304l cuts nicely. Others leave melted and sharp globs on the back
that are very very hard.

Martin

Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
TSRA, Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.
http://lufkinced.com/


cavelamb himself wrote:
Title say it all.

I'm past the point that I can chomp parts with a chop saw and grind/file
a smooth edge.

Some of these parts have interior curves that make that impossible to
any real degree. Even with my foolish stubborn streak!

So?

Would someone recommend a small and relatively inexpensive plasma cutter
that can handle up to 1/8" stainless?

Preferably 110 VAC if that's possible.

Richard


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I think the 3xx size would. I cut 14 ga. Stainless 314 etc with it.

Martin

Martin H. Eastburn
@ home at Lions' Lair with our computer lionslair at consolidated dot net
TSRA, Endowed; NRA LOH & Patron Member, Golden Eagle, Patriot's Medal.
NRA Second Amendment Task Force Charter Founder
IHMSA and NRA Metallic Silhouette maker & member.
http://lufkinced.com/


Pete C. wrote:
cavelamb himself wrote:
Title say it all.

I'm past the point that I can chomp parts with a chop saw and grind/file
a smooth edge.

Some of these parts have interior curves that make that impossible to
any real degree. Even with my foolish stubborn streak!

So?

Would someone recommend a small and relatively inexpensive plasma cutter
that can handle up to 1/8" stainless?

I think the Hypertherm Powermax line is the standard recommendation
these days. Check their site to see which will do the job. I know my
Powermax 1000 would certainly do it.


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http://www.pronews.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 100,000 Newsgroups
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