New Member

[harriscp93]

New to the forum! I am an ag teacher in east Texas and have a Lonestar cutting solutions spitfire. Also powered by a hypertherm 65 powermax sync.

I have a little experience, but my previous table was more of an expensive paperweight from years of abuse. Looking forward to getting to know this machine inside and out!

[cuttinparts]

Welcome to the forum, lots to learn here and plenty of help. Best of luck to you and your students with the new machine, would be interested in seeing what your students with it if you get a chance to post some pics of what you do at the ag school with it.

[harriscp93]

I need to get logged in on my phone so I can upload pictures, so far all I have used this machine for has been more so structural things. A quick attach tractor loader hitch (I'm sure there's a better name haha,) and parts that are various shapes like 1 inch caps or welding coupons. I really enjoy the cool firepits/ scenes for gates etc, I just haven't had a chance to play with that yet.

[acourtjester]

Start to get familiar with the software, CAD, CAM and Operational, then the reward is seeing the cutting finished. You can have the table go through the motions without actually cutting, more of a validation of what has been learned without wasting metal. Another tool to have a way to attach a sharpie or Ink Pen to the torch, it allows you to mark on sheet metal and paper to see things before cutting. Do a search here Labeled "sharpie" to see have others have done this to get you started, and have fun.

[adbuch]

I like Tom's suggestion to use a Sharpie pen holder attached to your torch to draw instead of cut. This will allow you do practice "cutting" without wasting valuable material. There are different versions of these sharpie holders available, or you could create something from scratch. Recently one of the members showed us how he used a few sort pieces of scrap steel tubing to rig something up for drawing.


viewtopic.php?p=241014&hilit=sharpie+holder#p241014

I have one that I 3D printed that comes in handy for use on my Plasmacam table.

[harriscp93]

The sharpie tip looks very handy! Especially for seeing if there's enough room between lines etc. I would assume looking at it that the line comes out similar in size to the kerf.

[adbuch]

I would assume looking at it that the line comes out similar in size to the kerf.

Yes - if the Sharpie line is the about the same width as your specified kerf width, then your drawing should show you exactly how close the cut edges are to one another. It will also show you your lead-ins and/or lead-outs. In my example - I used no lead-ins/lead-outs so all you see on the paper is an approximation of the cut path.

David