1/2" STEEL PLATE

[fitzy]

I'm just getting ready to cut out some connection plates for a concrete tilt up building. They are out of 1/2" plate square with a slot and a hole in the end of the slot. did a sample cut last night and it turned out ok just curious to know if I'm in the ballpark on my settings or way off.
tm3 table
thermaldyne 82
80 amps
speed set at 19.5
no avhc yet
i ask cause the kerf is leaning and I've never cut anything that thick on my table before.
thanks
Dan

[oakycreek]

Do you have a hand torch or a machine torch head for your cutter? I experienced bad angle cuts on thicker material and it was because the machine head was every so slightly out of plum. And the thicker the material the more pronounced the angle was. A quick adjustment and all was good.

Jerry
www.oakycreek.com

[plasmanewbie]

Now thats a simple solution, should check that first. Good point Jerry.

Plasmanewbie

[fitzy]

thanks for all te advice and actually found out that my torch head was a bit out of level and also had to play around with the arc hieght but everything turned out looking pretty well now I'm working on some 1/4" ss grates for ductile pipe (not as fun as steel) but got to pay the bills some how they actually look like cinese checker board games.

[admin]

Good stuff. Happy to hear you got your problems worked out fitzy.

admin

[fitzy]

found out something last night had to cut out some flanges out of 1/2" plate turned my torch down to 60 amps and the speed down to 15 ipm its alot slower but gives quite a bit better cut than before not as much lean in the kerf. just thought I'ld give everyone an update still learnin though thanks

[admin]

"Low and Slow" is almost always the best approach.

Glad to hear your getting better results still.

admin