allan from scotland new to plasma cutting

[scozy1]

Allan from Scotland new to plasma cutting looking for advice and looking to learn
just got a new Hypertherm powdermax 105
quick question if anyone can let me know how small lettering should i be able to cut with it

[acourtjester]

If you have the fine cut nozzle for the Hypertherm machine torch you should be able to cut quit small letters. The main concern would be the pierce dot and the lead in and out as to closeness to other letters. the thickness of the metal also comes into play, thinner metal less amps. Do some test cutting for a few letters looking at closed letters with inside shapes ( O P G A B D Q).

[plasmanewbie]

Welcome Allan. As Tom mentioned Finecut consumables are the way to go for small letters. Of course it will also depend on the font but in general 1" tall letters is as small as I have had luck with. Let us know how it goes.

[adbuch]

Allan from Scotland new to plasma cutting looking for advice and looking to learn
just got a new Hypertherm powdermax 105
quick question if anyone can let me know how small lettering should i be able to cut with it

Welcome to the forum Allan! Hypertherm makes some great cutters - I own and use both the 45xp and Powermax 85 for cnc cutting. The size of the lettering will depend on the material and material thickness, as well as the particular consumables you choose to use. For best results with thinner material (10 ga. and thinner) I would recommend using the FineCut consumables with your Duramax torch. These provide a narrower kerf width will less heat into the part resulting in better detailed cuts with less warping on thin materials. With the FineCuts, I expect you should be able to cut letters and numbers at least as small as 1/2" tall, and maybe a bit smaller depending on the font and if they are stenciled (or not).

Good luck with your new venture and feel free to post some photos of some of your cuts and/or projects.

David

[scozy1]

thank guys for the quick reply only starting out so have been learning a lot this past 6mths
not sure how to post pictures on here

[scozy1]

[scozy1]

[scozy1]

any tips would be welcome

[adbuch]

thank guys for the quick reply only starting out so have been learning a lot this past 6mths
not sure how to post pictures on here

Allan - it looks like you have it figured out on posting photos. You have lots of great projects you have created - I am very impressed!! Keep up the good work.

David

[Joe Jones]

any tips would be welcome

What software are you using to draw your designs? Or are you using art libraries of existing images?

I noticed on the circles, that your arc resolution seems low. It is giving you flat spots rather than smooth arcs.

Joe

[plasmanewbie]

A lot of great looking projects there. Well done and thanks for posting!

[Joe Jones]

This was cut with a Hypertherm 85 and fine cut consumables, with a machine torch, in 14 gauge hot roll steel. It even surprised ME. (Dross was not removed for this photo)

1/32" wide scroll! I don't know how I did this, and I have not been able to duplicate it

Joe

[djreiswig]

I've done some pretty thin cuts accidentally also. I do know you want to make sure your start point isn't in the thin area or it'll blow through.

[scozy1]

using bought drawings mostly could u explain arc resolution like i said every new to this and mostly using book setting for these
thanks again

[adbuch]

using bought drawings mostly could u explain arc resolution like i said every new to this and mostly using book setting for these
thanks again

The higher the arc resolution, the shorter the straight path segments approximating the curve (or circle). When the arc resolution is too low, you can see the straight path segments and they look like flat spots. Most all of your artistic pieces have the flat spots around the outer perimeters. I really hadn't paid any attention to it before, and I suspect most will think it is intended as part of a "rustic/artistic" look. So I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you would care to pm me with one of the original files you started with (like the hunter) I will check out the file and let you know what is really going on with it.

David

[adbuch]

using bought drawings mostly could u explain arc resolution like i said every new to this and mostly using book setting for these
thanks again

PM sent.


David

[acourtjester]

That may be the segments verse arcs and how different software converts drawing. It has been talked about here when going from an art to a Cam software may not result in exactly what was wanted from start to finish. The old "lost in translation" trick.

[scozy1]

hunter_two_dogs_circle.svg

(16.68 KiB) Downloaded 57 times

hunter_two_dogs_circle.svg

(16.68 KiB) Downloaded 57 times

hope that helps

[Joe Jones]

The svg file is smooth. So the segmented circles must have happened during the conversion to a DXF format.

Joe

[adbuch]

hunter_two_dogs_circle.svg hope that helps

Allan - you file looks good and should produce nice smooth curved paths. When imported to SheetCam for post processing, the resultant g-code is made up of G2 commands which should be interpreted by your controller and produce very small straight path segments, the resolution (individual path segment lengths) determined by the arc resolution ( MM_PER_ARC_SEGMENT) of your controller.

What is your process to cut this file? What software are you using to create your g-code? Are you importing the svg directly to your cam software or converting to dxf first? What table and control software are you using?

Thanks,
David

circle 2.jpg (43.52 KiB) Viewed 2385 times

circle 2.jpg (43.52 KiB) Viewed 2385 times

[scozy1]

thanks for taking the time to look at this for me
i am using a new Hypertherm 105 Morgan Rushworth table
i am using inkscape and libra cad to do drawings and nesting with pronest which came as a package

[adbuch]

thanks for taking the time to look at this for me
i am using a new Hypertherm 105 Morgan Rushworth table
i am using inkscape and libra cad to do drawings and nesting with pronest which came as a package

For the purchased dxf/svg files like the one you posted, what additional processing are you doing which might possibly introduce the low arc resolution?

Are you converting these from one vector format to another (svg to dxf or visa versa)? Does Pronest accept both svg and dxf for post processing, assuming that is the program you are using to create your g-code?

Is this only happening with purchased files, or other file you have created as well? I only notice it on the black circular pieces, and the others like the dog and Arnold S. (body builder) look fine. This is a mystery.

David

[scozy1]

could anyone give any advise on how to get these better

[acourtjester]

You may look at using bridges to keep inside sections of the numbers and letters in place. You used it in the O but not the B,9,0. In some images it looks like you have wobble in the torch travel. You may want to check the bearing adjustment on the sliders, or loose bolt or drive assemblies. Also the lead in and out area there are small tips left, if you use SheetCam you can use a little over cut at the end of cut to remove that.

[adbuch]

could anyone give any advise on how to get these better

What is the overall size of your finished parts? These look to be small in diameter, but I need confirmation.
Thanks,
David