Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: plasma cutting table

Let me add a little to this topic. The old Heath Shape Cutter was of a
cantilever constructon and had a cutting table some 10x30 feet. It was a
tracer so it had a pattern table on one side and a cutting area on the other
of a rail that had "V" wheels. They were rack driven in all directions. Even
the torch heads were on small racks. We refitted the machine for plasma and
the main problem was getting enough speed to cut thin materials. These
machines were and I am sure some still are cutting very nice parts. Would I
still use "V" wheel construction? Certainly for a cutting torch, plasma or
oxy and maybe for a router but not for a laser. The inherent accuracy on the
process must be taken into account.
As to the trouble with cutting aluminum with a plasma torch, you need to
use different gases for different metals. Aluminum is best cut with argon or
helium or a combination of the two. Stainless also benifits from other
gases, I think nitrogen is the perfered one here.
astly some plasma torches have water injected to constrict the arc and
make the kerf very small and the cut finer. some are used with water
completely covering the part being cut. This would also aid in reducing the
noise the machines make.
Scott Nelson
Pearland, Texas