How to decrease pierce spray

[Stout]

Does anyone have a solution to decrease the spray produced during piercing plate. I've been cutting a lot of 3/4" MS and would really like to find a way to keep the molten metal spray to a minimum.

[BrianMick]

I just cut a lot of 1 inch mild steel yesterday......tend to go through a lot of shields because of the spray. I usually mark the pierce point and drill a small 1/4 inch hole.....then no pierce or pierce time is needed.....no spray because the molten metal has somewhere to go.....
Brian

[Stout]

In this case, there are 75 pierces on the sheet. I don't think drilling holes would be practical.

I haven't had any shield issues so far. Are you using a Hypertherm machine torch with shields? I have had to stop the machine to remove dross spray.

[BrianMick]

yes I am running a hypertherm 1650. I drilled over 250 holes yesterday, it wasn't fun but had to be done.
Brian

[jimcolt]

The maximum pierce thickness rating on the 1650 is 3/4". If you upgrade to the Duramax torch you could pierce the 1"....as long as you have a good height control that can set an accurate pierce height. The time you would have saved drilling 250 holes in 1" plate probably would buy the Duramax torch!


Jim Colt

yes I am running a hypertherm 1650. I drilled over 250 holes yesterday, it wasn't fun but had to be done.
Brian

[BrianMick]

Not to worried about that jim as within two weeks my alltra table with a hpr400 xd will be installed
Brian

[Stout]

yes I am running a hypertherm 1650. I drilled over 250 holes yesterday, it wasn't fun but had to be done.
Brian

Curious to see how you located the pierce point of the holes to drill them. Did you move the machine to the start point, mark it, move it out of the way, and then drill?

[jimcolt]

Now you are talking "Industrial Plasma"! You can pierce 2 inch with the 400.


Jim

Not to worried about that jim as within two weeks my alltra table with a hpr400 xd will be installed
Brian

[BrianMick]

yes I am running a hypertherm 1650. I drilled over 250 holes yesterday, it wasn't fun but had to be done.
Brian

Curious to see how you located the pierce point of the holes to drill them. Did you move the machine to the start point, mark it, move it out of the way, and then drill?

my machine has the capability to mark points so I just drew the points and end point snapped them on the end of the lead-ins, then it just fires long enough to put a small dimple where the pierce would start.....
Brian

[DARRYL21270]

Can't you make some sort of shield so the metal doesn't fly all over the place. I know with waterjet and laser cutting there is a shroud around the cutting head.

[plain ol Bill]

Don't know what software you are using but if it is Sheetcam try the "wiggle" pierce. I have not tried it but it was designed to help piercing heavy material.

[Stout]

I'm using TurboNest so I'll give them a call to see if there is a feature like that. I have not seen it in any settings.

[jimcolt]

A wiggle pierce or a running pierce will not change the amount of molten metal that blows back....in fact they will generally produce more. Hypertherm torches are designed to pierce at the recommended pierce height and pierce delay time (from the cut chart in the operators manual) while staying in one position....this makes for a quick and efficient pierce. The amount of molten blowback is dependant on the material thickness and the power level/nozzle size......if you use a wiggle or moving pierce it will take longer/blow more material back.

If the blow back is of issue...I would suggest fabricating a shroud around the torch. I have done it on occasion at trade shows by using a piece of welding curtain material velcro'd to a ring around the torch. This will effectively control the sparks and also subdues the UV light from the arc a bit....and is easy to replace.

[Stout]

I was looking at the TurboNest options and there is a Pre-pierce option that I had not looked at. Along with the amount of spray generated by the pierce, the issue of torch travel at cut height was causing collisions with the top spay puddle while cutting the 3/4" MS. The pre-pierce option will pierce by blow through or with a circle of a specified radius. It will do all of the pre-pierces for the whole plate so I can clean up the top dross before the cutting starts and avoid collisions. I think I read the help file properly. I should have some 3/4" MS to cut in about a week so I'll test it then.

I will be making a cone or curtain to attach to the torch for the pierces. And it will probably be disposable because I'm sure the spray will stick to it like glue, or molten metal. I wonder if the anti-spatter would help here.

Any thoughts on anti-spatter for the torch shield and nozzle. I don't know what impact it would have on all those little holes in the shield.

[jimcolt]

Anti spatter spray...used lightly on the shield is good to keep spatter from the shield. To avoid collisions with top slay from piercing....you can spray the anti spatter on the top of the plate...it works amazingly well. You can also make longer leadins....and use a slightly higher pierce height and pierce delay. Some cnc machines and torch height controls have settings and features that eliminate collisions with top spatter....some do not.


Jim Colt Hypertherm

[mdwalker]

I routinely cut 1/2" and 5/8" plate on my table. After trying several different things to eliminate or decrease the problem with the "pierce puddle" including anti-spatter spray and drilling pierce holes I finally found something that works for me with the equipment I use.

1. Set the cutting software to pause before cutting.
2. Press start. The torch will fire and pierce the material. The instant you hear the pierce penetrate the plate press stop. With a little practice you will be able to stop the torch before it starts moving along the cut path.
3. Using a small chisel tap the pierce puddle and knock it loose.
4. Press start and continue the cut.

Works great for me. I have a Samson 5' x 10' with height control running DesignEdge with all the options and Hypertherm Powermax 1000.

Danny

[cstroke]

that certainly is one big heavy toilet seat..

[Gamelord]

that certainly is one big heavy toilet seat..

Now I gotta clean soda off of my keyboard!

[mdwalker]

that certainly is one big heavy toilet seat..

LMAO! Like they always say, you get what you pay for!

[mdwalker]

That is actually a hinge plate for a flare stack unit. If you have ever seen an oil well site where they are burning off gas from the well site, this is a hinge plate for the tall pipe that the flame comes out of.