Re: NEWBIE WITH PLASMA/ROUTER ??'s

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "alex" <telecomt@t...> wrote:

> This sounds very exciting!
> What is the thickness of material you cut?
> What are the tolerances for the cut?
> Alex
>

I currently cut a lot of 11ga material. While my machine can
hold .002 easy, the torch flame can vary from .050 to .070 in
diameter based on the "age" of the tip consumables and the speed of
the cut. I am cutting decorative type signs that have a lot of
detail. The machine will cut a full 48" X 48" and the material can be
indexed (tiled cut) so up to a 48" X 144" can be cut. Most start off
as a 2ft sq piece of material. Usually about 80% of the material
falls into the water vat. While plasma won't rival abrasive waterjet
or laser for glass smooth cuts and consistant width of cut, its a lot
cheaper to setup and maintain. A plasma cutter is not a precision
cutting tool. You have to learn to work within its limitations.

If somebody had a source on cheap 55,000 psi pumps and heads then I
would consider switching to waterjet! The plasma is cool to use and
watch but the air gets filled with a fine metallic dust that gets
into everything. Even with water tanks 4" below the material a lot
of stuff gets into the air. I have taken to sweeping the shop floor
daily and doing a complete clean and lube on all moving parts of the
table once a week. Even though the ballscrews are protected on the
sides of the machine they are not sealed totally from dust. I am
tempted to put a dust extraction system on the table (I abandoned
that project when I switched the table from wood router to plasma
cutter) to see if it will help keep the smoke, soot and plasma dust
down. One of the really FUN jobs around here is cleaning out the
slag tanks after several days of cutting..yech!