cutting stainless steel help!

[cambo]

Does anyone have any tips for cutting thin gauge stainless. I did a test cut on a small piece and the edges were a little rough. Any suggestions would help thanks

[plain ol Bill]

While I have no idea what plasma system or table you are using I suggest looking at your cut height. I recently cut some .058 stainless and the cut height listed in my owners manual for my Hyperthem 1250 was .010. Yes, that is right - ten thou! Once I noticed that it cut like a dream.

[cambo]

I have a Tracker with a Miller spectrum 1000. I will have to go back to the manual(you know how guys hate to use the directions)and see what it says.I think i was a little high. thank you very much!

[fab-man]

You may not be able to cut that thin stainless well at all using the Spectrum 1000. From my past experience I have found that machine to be great on thick materials but I was never able to get low amperage tips for it so it would never cut well on thin metals.

FabMan

[cambo]

thanks for the reply fabman. now that you mention it i have noticed even with mild steel that i get a better looking cut on 3/4 than i do on 1/8".I guess i will have to keep trying different things and hopefully figure something out

[rustygirl]

Cutting stainless is a pain. We cut a lot of it in 16 gauge and have found that cutting at .03 or .04 on your speed works well. Also, always start with a clean or new cutting tip.

[jimcolt]

Use the 40 Amp consumables set in the Miller plasma (torch is made by Hypertherm) , cut very close to the plate (1/16" max) at about 35 to 40 amps at a cut speed of about 150 IPM.....you will get a good cut.

The Hypertherm systems have FineCut consumables that cut SS sheet with extremely good quality. Unfortunately these consumables do not fit the Miller versions of the torch.

Jim Colt

[Loyd]

I just finished cutting some .040 stainless with a Hypertherm 1250 with fine cut consumables @ 35amps 155 ipm and .020 cut height. The cut was very good.
Loyd

[cambo]

thanks for the info going to give it

[choppy]

I need to cut Stainless Steel Profiles out of a 10mm thick plate. The machine is Hypertherm 1600.
I have been told to use Pure Nitrogen Gas instead of the conventional Oxygen to avoid darkening of the egdes but have been warned of serration of the edges.
This will be a maiden effort to cut SS profiles for us. Request cutting tips and cautionary advice. Thanks..

[Loyd]

choppy, PM Jim Colt he is the resident expert on hypertherm. He can get you very close.
Loyd

[Heatherjo350]

Cutting with pure nitrogen will help cutting the thin gauge material but will darken the edges, cutting with F5 gas will eliminate the darkening of the edges. I cut .060 stainless with 40 amp consumables with very good results

[boodog710]

I cut a lot of 12 & 14 gauge stainless for an elevator company. I have a Hypertherm 1250 on a Dynatorch table. I use a 40 amp fine cut nozzle. The Dynatorch has a torch height controller so it automatically sets the height. The cut need almost no clean-up and no discoloration.

[cambo]

thanks for all the info everyone. Boodog do use different gases when your cutting stainless?

[boodog710]

No, I use compressed air.