hypertherm powermax 1000. cutting issues please help.

[awt112]

I have a hypertherm powermax 100, and a plasmaCAM 4x4 table. I am having cut issues and would like some advice thanks.

I am getting dross on the cutting surface, and lots of hard dross on bottom of cutting surface. Also sometimes it will not completely penetrate the metal all the way through in some spots. I will upload some photos of settings and cut material. any help or suggestions would be great. I am using 40amp fine cut consumables, air press out of plasma is 70/75 psi. currently cutting 10gauge mild steel.

Thank you!

[Stout]

What is your cut speed and height? The book shows 50 ipm.

[jimcolt]

Dross is caused by two main factors, assuming the consumable parts...especially the nozzle are not worn or damaged:

1. Cutting too slow. This causes heat buildup on the material which causes excess bottom dross. Start at the speed listed in your operators manual...if there is bottom dross present increase speed 5 ipm at a time until you are dross free. You are cutting the thickest material that the Finecut consumables are rated for....on occasion we will find steel sheets that will not cut completely dross free due to metallurgy.

2. Cut height too high. If the cut height is not always maintained at the book spec (which for Finecut is .06" (1/16"), usually it is too high and this will show as top dross and uncut (not fully penetrated) areas. If the height is too high the first step (above) for speed will also not work well.

Both cut height and speed being dialed in properly will generally solve your listed issues. Keep in mind that just because you have the height set correctly on your cnc machine ...does not automatically mean that it is correct. If you are using a Plasmacam you must calibrate the z axis properly in order for the height to be correct.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

I have a hypertherm powermax 100, and a plasmaCAM 4x4 table. I am having cut issues and would like some advice thanks.

I am getting dross on the cutting surface, and lots of hard dross on bottom of cutting surface. Also sometimes it will not completely penetrate the metal all the way through in some spots. I will upload some photos of settings and cut material. any help or suggestions would be great. I am using 40amp fine cut consumables, air press out of plasma is 70/75 psi. currently cutting 10gauge mild steel.

Thank you!

[awt112]

Thank you Jim, I have installed new consumables, and played with cut speed. So much better thank you again!