PMX 85 cutting quality

[SegoMan DeSigns]

personally never, it's a machine that I've had for a year and I do very little cutting with it. I'm a farmer, so not a metal craftsman!!!!.

Farmer or not your machine still requires proper setup, maintenance and inspection just like the other machines do.. Did you buff an area clean for your work lead to attach to? What type of torch are you using, hand or machine? Is this a SYNC system? Lot's of unknowns here.. You need to address everything the forum members posted here to achieve optimal cutting.Here is what my Hypertherm machines can do


This is 1/2" plate cut at 65A, for reference the penny is 3/4" OD

This is 3/4" cut at 85A

This is 1" cut at 105A:

This is 1-1/4" cut at 105A:

[Geanvert]

indeed, i have to admit that the work is remarkable, bravo. i will try to check again all my parameters and status of everything that is mentioned throughout this discussion. so yes, i stripped for the clamp, it is a machine torch and a basic pmx85.

[adbuch]

personally never, it's a machine that I've had for a year and I do very little cutting with it. I'm a farmer, so not a metal craftsman!!!!.

Farmer or not your machine still requires proper setup, maintenance and inspection just like the other machines do.. Did you buff an area clean for your work lead to attach to? What type of torch are you using, hand or machine? Is this a SYNC system? Lot's of unknowns here.. You need to address everything the forum members posted here to achieve optimal cutting.Here is what my Hypertherm machines can do


This is 1/2" plate cut at 65A, for reference the penny is 3/4" OD


IMG_20250227_102029676.jpg


This is 3/4" cut at 85A


IMG_20200930_140901608.jpg


This is 1" cut at 105A:


IMG_20201103_121310372_HDR.jpg


This is 1-1/4" cut at 105A:


IMG_20201105_152733112_HDR.jpg

Steve - those are some super nice looking cuts. I agree with the suggestion that perhaps the op might check his 0-rings for wear or leaks.

David

[SegoMan DeSigns]

Steve - those are some super nice looking cuts. I agree with the suggestion that perhaps the op might check his 0-rings for wear or leaks.
David

Thanks David,

Before I got into the business of sparks the only CNC plas table available was an older (well used) Koiki machine that was100 miles away. It had less than stellar cuts, the only other option was a water jet at 3x the cost. I had a never been used TM Growth Series 2'x2' gantry appear on my door step, the previous multiple owners was unable to make it operate, I had it working in 2 hrs and started the build for the base on the Shiny Keg Plasma Kutter. The 1/2" job above was one of it's first cuts. It was definitely a Tarzan Yell & "Beat on Your Chest" moment for me. I used it to make parts for the 6x12 build which did the rest of the cuts shown above:

These machine are a bit finicky at times which requires 3 dimensional critical thinking skills that Mr Spock talked about on Star Trek.

Steve

IMG_0358.jpg (77.34 KiB) Viewed 5603 times

IMG_0358.jpg (77.34 KiB) Viewed 5603 times

[Geanvert]

if you have some time, could you try to cut out the shape that I cut out to see the result that you get to realize the real possibilities with plasma? I had also sent the photos to hypertherm which for Europe is based in the Netherlands and the response in return was, you will never achieve a result like a laser, you would need a HD plasma, do not dream!!! after that I was very skeptical hence my intensive research which allowed me to arrive on your great forum, finally I will take that as a chance otherwise I would never have discovered it. for the shape of the hole if someone wants to try and share the result, it is in mild steel thickness 16mm, Ø16mm with notch of 7x6mm.

[PlasmaDon]

hole Ø 16mm, notch 7x6mm
the direction is good, it's automatic for the interior contours. the height, I don't know how to do it because as soon as I stop working voluntarily, the torch goes up automatically. or else you would have to go into the machine settings to say not to go up. on the other hand no it's not hypertherm who recommends 30%, it's me who noted the result of the 4 tests at different speeds for very small surface areas. but it is obvious that we will not have a result like a laser. I mentioned the dimensions if by chance someone who has excellent results with similar equipment would be willing to test and post photos to compare.

Above in post #6, you indicated no Torch height control, but it sounds as if you do have some form of Torch Height Control ?

Please post some pictures of your machine, and it's controls.

[Geanvert]

yes of course there is a Z axis like all plasma tables but no THC.

[PlasmaDon]

yes of course there is a Z axis like all plasma tables but no THC.

Enough.

"Of course" ??

I was trying to help you fix your problems.

Goodbye.

[Geanvert]

so, we're going to refocus the discussion, I use google translate to be able to chat on the forum, reading your answer I have to understand that something upset you in my answer. it's just the magic of the texts and its interpretation. so I was saying that the Z axis is mobile, but my machine does not have THC. so I can't stop it at the working height. I contacted the manufacturer to see how to proceed and he advised me to start cutting without activating the electric arc and at the lowest speed, which gives me time to slide in measuring shims. so if my answer caused you any inconvenience, I am sincerely sorry but that was absolutely not the goal, quite the contrary because everyone here is really very friendly and the goal of a forum is to help each other, not to argue. thank you for your understanding.

[Geanvert]

I will take some photos for you at the end of the afternoon if we finish our work on the roofs of the houses early enough and I come back to the workshop.

[Geanvert]

my table is a JDcut minimap 120x120 cm and the work software is Galaad, controlled by soprolec.

[weldguy]

That looks like it’s a good quality build. I am not at all familiar with your software. Need to get actual numbers on your cutting height and make adjustments if needed and go from there.

[Geanvert]

I will communicate this when I resume cutting, because rain is forecast for the end of the week and we will try to do as much as possible on the crops while the weather is nice and there is no wind.

[Geanvert]

Hello, here I am again after a long time. I have cut a lot of parts since my last message. I have to redo my water tanks, one is completely twisted and the bars that support them are not straight. Since the beginning, my table is not really flat so I will start everything again after the corn and soybean plantations to be on a good starting point. I spoke with a craftsman who manufactures agricultural equipment and repairs it who also has a powermax 85 on a cnc table, and he tells me that for an 18 mm screw he drills at 21 mm so as not to have any problems during assembly. When I see the photos shared throughout the discussion, we should not be so wide with a very good cutting quality. I can't wait to find my problem because I am currently disappointed with my work.

[adbuch]

Thanks for the update!

David

[Geanvert]

We always talk about A for the cuts and the height of the torch but not the air pressure!!!! Can someone provide details on this parameter (relationship with thickness and A)? Thank you

[cuttinparts]

We always talk about A for the cuts and the height of the torch but not the air pressure!!!! Can someone provide details on this parameter (relationship with thickness and A)? Thank you

What are you referring to when you say "A"......amperage?

[SegoMan DeSigns]

I normally leave my air pressure on auto- set unless if it is really thick then i will do manual override and crank it up.

[Geanvert]

Hello, what are the original minimum/maximum settings on a Hypertherm PM85?

[Geanvert]

A yes. Ampérage

[cuttinparts]

Not sure what you are trying to figure out here but I believe you are overcomplicating things. Just set the amps to the appropriate value for the material you are cutting and use the tip for the amperage you have selected, likely 45 amps, 65 amps or 85 amps. As for air pressure it is all set internally and automatically, don't waste your time going into manual air pressure settings, you won't improve anything. Make sure your heights are correct while piercing and cutting and the only thing you may want to experiment with is cut speed to determine how much slower to run for smaller interior cuts to look good and what works best on the larger outer profiles.

[Geanvert]

I'm asking about the air pressure because I have no information about the capabilities of my cutter and to check if my mini/maxi is correct. Just to clear up any doubts about a possible malfunction. I had a case where I had displayed a setting on the screen and when I entered the menu, I had another value displayed. So I was simply asking for the basic parameters of the cutter. Afterwards, I am well aware of all the parameters to check and take into account. I will do all these checks as soon as I have time. Thank you all for your feedback.