Settings for cutting 1/4 inch steel plate

[elkriverfab]

I have a hypertherm 380 and will be using fine cut consumables.

I need to cut some brackets from 1/4 inch steel plate.

Anyone have any suggestions on speeds and amps?

I usually cut thinner material but I have a project requiring heavy plate brackets.

Any help would be great.

Thanks.

[Scratch]

I'm no Hypertherm guy, but aren't their fine cut consumables for thinner material....

[peepers]

Here is a link to a preivous post that may answer your question.
Hope it helps.
http://plasmaspider.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1424

[elkriverfab]

Thanks guys.

I just had a lot of fine cut parts laying around, and I thought I would try.

I will go with the regular tips.

I have cut thicker in the past I want to say half inch, and it did better than I thought with the 380 being a smaller unit.

I just need to cut some mounting plates and gussets in 1/4.

Any speed ideas?

Like I said, usually I cut a lot of thinner material and the 1/4 material was not cheap.

I just dont want to do a lot of test cuts on a $100.00 4x4 piece and ruin my sheet.

Thanks in advance.

[jimcolt]

For 1/4" plate with the Powermax380 you will run wide open on amperage (27 amps) ....and follow the suggested speeds listed in the manual that came with the system. 1/4" is just about maximum thickness for that system, so speeds will likely be in the 10 to 13 inch per minute range, standoff should be maintained at about 1/16", if you drag cut you will have to slow the cut speed about 10 to 15%. There are no FineCut consumables available for the Powermax380.

If you don't have the manual, you can download it on the www.hypertherm.com website, click on download libraries tab.

Jim colt

[elkriverfab]

Jim Colt,

Thank you very much for your help.

I figured I was getting close to maxing the hypertherm at 1/4.

As far as the fine cut consumables, I have been using them for some time now.

My manual has the part numbers and refers to them as fine cut consumables.

Found out about them about a year ago and it is a huge difference from the regular tips.

I will post the part numbers.

I have two 380 units and the first manual does not show the parts but the second one has them.

Thank you again Mr. Colt for your help.

[jimcolt]

You are correct on the FineCut consumables for the 380.....I work for Hypertherm.....but I have not seen a 380 for a few years, and I had one of the older manuals that does not list the FineCut parts! Still, the standard consumables will probably work better for 1/4" and thicker materials....your limitation is 27 Amps!

Jim