hypertherm consumables: shielded vs unshielded

[_Ogre]

hypertherm powermax 65 w/ machine torch, water table and candcnc dthc
when should i use shielded consumables?
when should i use unshielded consumables?

up to now i've only tried the shielded unless using finecut and i just noticed there is a shield for finecut too
the manual shows setups for both shielded and unshielded for a machine torch.
the manual does say that unshielded tips have a shorter life


in mach3 there is a ''stored cut profile settings'' button, is there a download file to insert in there with all the hypertherm powermax 65 cut settings?
pierce height, delay, cut height, voltage, etc; or is this one of those things i have to manually enter all the cut settings?

[beefy]

Hi Ogre,

it's always been recommended to use the sheilded consumables. Apparently the non sheilded ones are supposed to be for accessing difficult areas.

I don't know of any ready made file to go in the Cut Profiles box. Check with Tom at Candcnc (forum) and see if he has anything. Remember the book settings although supposed to be quite accurate for Hypertherm may need a few tweaks if you are after the best quality possible. Test cuts with THC off are a typical way of finding out the best settings. The hafnium electrode erodes, effectively increasing the arc length, then some say the same parameters cut different one day than they do on another day.

Not so important of course if you are not after the very best edge quality.

Keith.

[_Ogre]

thanks for the feedback beefy. was sort of hoping someone else would add their 2c to the mix.

[abmagrum]

unshielded don't work. it makes a big mess.
don't ask me how I know this
I think its for hand torches or running with out thc. not sure though.
you want fine cuts for 10 gauge and under for detail
and regular shielded for everything else.
although they did talked about using gouging consumables for wider kerf

that's all I got.