Re: plasma cutting table

Comments on aluminum cutting:

If your Plasma Cutter is rated for 1/2" steel plate, you should be
able to get a clean cut on 1/4" aluminum plate. I find cutting 3/8"
aluminum possible, but the cut is not as clean as had I been cutting
steel.

Machine vs. Hand Torch. Went crazy with the Hypertherm Specs on the
900 series, as it shows the recommended cutting thickness being 1/2
with the machine torch. Take a look at the specs, for the new 1000
model, here: http://www.hypertherm.com/manual/pmax_1000.htm What
I hadn't realized is they spec the hand held model to a higher
thickness, as you don't need to piece straight into the material, but
can tilt into the scrap and then swing the arc down to get the
thicker cut. Machine model is rated for thinner stock to allow
piecing. Took me a while to figure that out.

On the tables with the "spikes" to hold the material. A friend is
using one and comment when cutting out smaller items, like house
numbers, they will fall down, but leave part sticking up above the
rest of the material fouling the cutting head.

Tom