Hypertherm machine torch cut height with shielded consumables

[Patriot Steel]

Hello,to account
Like it says above cut charts says .060 cut height do i need to lower the cut height for the shield or is that already taken into account the distance from the electrode to the tip of the shield is approximately .020.
Thanks

[weldguy]

Good question, I have always gone by the charts and the chart for lets say 65 amp shielded states .060" cut height and says nothing about removing the shield to measure actual tip to workpiece distance rather than shield to workpiece distance. For this reason I measure between the shield and workpiece, be sure it maintains .060", and have always had great results.

[acourtjester]

Me too, bottom of the shield to the top of metal 0.060" checked with a feeler gauge.

[Patriot Steel]

Ok then i will do the same. Thanks

[djreiswig]

Not sure about the spec, but the arc gap is from the bottom of the hafnium pit to the material. That's where the arc jumps. When the electrode wears, the gap increases. When an electrode wears, the arc voltage increases. But I always measure from the shield.