Used consumables for what?

[Retro]

Hi there,
any ideas on how to use the worn out consumables? Is it possible to renew these? Always buying new ones, but recycle the old ones? Are they just junk?

20230219_131917.jpg

[martyy]

I recycle them. Not that I recoup any real money, just feel it is worthwhile to do I guess.

[ROKCRLER]

Ive been saving mine for a shop stool along these lines

Table.jpg

[martyy]

Ive been saving mine for a shop stool along these lines

Cool idea. My cheap butt would probably try to drill out an electrode when I was in a pinch!

[weldguy]

Ya, there just junk. I always keep some used one around from the cnc table for hand cut usage otherwise they go in the garbage.

Now that's a sweet stool Rokcrler , if you ever build it I would sure like to see it!

[Retro]

Alright, so they will probably end up in a desktop epoxy.

[acourtjester]

as the said on "Happy days" sit on it Rokcrler love seeing the creative juices flowing
I wonder if you could melt them down and cast things for other project parts??

[adbuch]

This thread gets me to thinking! Perhaps I can think of something novel to do with my old ones. So far they are just sitting on the shelf next to the table. Lots of great ideas here to ponder.
David

[tinspark]

I have a small 5 gallon bucket for small junk parts that I recycle. I have just thrown mine in there and eventually gets dumped in my scrap pile in the back of my utility trailer to take in for recycling along with many cnc sheet metal skeletons. I already have way too many projects that I am working on. I feel good that I am managing to recycle stuff like this instead of just "C>it Sh<anning" the stuff. I guess that I am a cheapster at heart too.. LOL!!

[Joe Jones]

I believe the consumables are brass, right? Or are they copper?

Joe

[Joe Jones]

Hi there,
any ideas on how to use the worn out consumables? Is it possible to renew these? Always buying new ones, but recycle the old ones? Are they just junk?

20230219_131917.jpg

I contacted Hypertherm to ask about EXACTLY which alloys and metals are used to make their consumables. I believe they can be recycled.

Joe

[Retro]

Its some sort of copper alloy. They won't tell me exactly which. I contacted them about refreshing those, they said the can only be recycled as scrap metal. I hoped for a "Send 10 old and get 5 new ones" or smth like that. One Nozzle costs 4,50 €/$ and one Electrode the same. I get not quite one 5x10 Sheet 3mm on 45 Amps out of one nozzle.

[Joe Jones]

Its some sort of copper alloy. They won't tell me exactly which. I contacted them about refreshing those, they said the can only be recycled as scrap metal.

I HAVE to believe that some entrepreneur could convert those consumables into shell casings for ammo, or BULLETS for ammo, or some other product. I sure hate our wasteful society!

Joe

[abmetal]

It's a shame Jim Colt isn't still around. I'll bet he would know.

Allen

[Joe Jones]

I am especially interested to know what metal they use for the center electrode. I heard it is Rhodium, but I cannot imagine that, given the PRICE of Rhodium!

Joe

[djreiswig]

I am especially interested to know what metal they use for the center electrode. I heard it is Rhodium, but I cannot imagine that, given the PRICE of Rhodium!

Joe

I believe the center of Hypertherm electrodes is hafnium.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafnium

[adbuch]

I believe the center of Hypertherm electrodes is hafnium.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafnium

Yes - you are correct! And the wear limit on the depth of the hafnium on the standard consumables is approx. 0.040".
David

[mdwalker]

Its some sort of copper alloy. They won't tell me exactly which. I contacted them about refreshing those, they said the can only be recycled as scrap metal. I hoped for a "Send 10 old and get 5 new ones" or smth like that. One Nozzle costs 4,50 €/$ and one Electrode the same. I get not quite one 5x10 Sheet 3mm on 45 Amps out of one nozzle.

If you are not able to cut a full sheet of 5x10 3mm I'm guessing something isn't right. You should be able to cut more than that on a fresh set of consumables.

[Joe Jones]

Its some sort of copper alloy. They won't tell me exactly which. I contacted them about refreshing those, they said the can only be recycled as scrap metal. I hoped for a "Send 10 old and get 5 new ones" or smth like that. One Nozzle costs 4,50 €/$ and one Electrode the same. I get not quite one 5x10 Sheet 3mm on 45 Amps out of one nozzle.

If you are not able to cut a full sheet of 5x10 3mm I'm guessing something isn't right. You should be able to cut more than that on a fresh set of consumables.

I get two 4x10 sheets of 14 ga. out of an electrode and nozzle. It depends on how much cutting they require. If you are cutting out large square panels, then yes, the electrodes should last longer. However, if you are cutting out a full sheet of Christmas Tree Ornaments, then I imagine one 5x10 sheet would just about finish a set of consumables.

Joe

[tnbndr]

I have a pierce counter set up in Mach 3.
Typically get 1200-1800 pierces from a set of Nozzles and electrode.
That could be one sheet or a dozen depending on what is being cut.

[Retro]

I cut last year a 5x10 sheet full of christmas trees. 5 Times it didn't pierce properly, maybe thats why it didn't last that long. 200 pierces maybe. I should also say, they aren't original parts. If that matters.

[Retro]

Thats what i was talking about earlier. By Makertable on YT with his Hypertherm consumables.

[tinspark]

Thats what i was talking about earlier. By Makertable on YT with his Hypertherm consumables.

HAHA!! That's just a little cray cray right there..
It would take me 30 years to burn up that many parts..
But it kinda memorializes all of the dead "soldiers" of yesteryear

[Retro]

I don*t think, i will ever get that many used up ones like him. But he has more tables than me and way more work for the plasma.

[ROKCRLER]

Thats what i was talking about earlier. By Makertable on YT with his Hypertherm consumables.

Retro... exactly what i was envisioning.