Cutting issues

[JR S]

Hello all. We have a Hypertherm Powermax 105 plasma cutter with a Shop Sabre 5X10 table using win cnc and drawn with Shop Sabres Quick Draw . Im cutting 5/8 metal and it allways starts out cutting rough the first 8 to 10 inches then cuts nice for at least another foot and a couple corners then back bad again. settings im using are (doing this from memory as im at home) 105 amp 146 volt 42 ipm .125 torch cutting height. When cutting straight lines its usually rough only at first. Thanks so much in advance for any help you guys can provide. This forum is the most informative ive found.

[JR S]

ill try posting a couple pics but as i only have a basic cell as my only source of internet please bear with me.

[Largemouthlou]

Have you checked for clean, dry air?.. Just one of the easy points to eliminate..

[Stout]

Looks like the torch is contacting the plate causing the it to momentarily pause or skip.

[fergy]

check your air
I know it has been said but ill say it again just so you check it
also check your sensing delay on thc

[jimcolt]

It certainly could be slugs of moisture getting through your air system.....but also could be motion related. Put you hand on the torch whil it is cutting....if you feel the z axis (up/down) oscillating or the x and y getting rough....it will show in the cut just as yor pictures do. Could be a loose motor, improperly meshed pinion gear, tigh spot in the motion ways, etc.


If you want best cut quality on the 5/8"...use the 85 amp shielded consumables. Slower, but much squarer, smoother edge.


Jim Colt Hypertherm

[JR S]

Thanks for the ideas. Ill try and use that to trouble shoot it on mon when we're cutting some more.

[HammerDownJustin]

I went from a longevity cutter to a hypertherm cutter on my table..and today was trying to figure out why my table was acting up and getting riugh cuttings like it was dragging and then realized the thicker lead that the hypertherm torch has was causing my old hanging system to bind..im stil learning but never know

[JR S]

Ok here is the results from all your ideas still not too happy with it but its a start.

Checked my air for moisture ran dry thru the whole couple minutes i ran it.
Checked air pressure and its good all the way to the tip.
Cleaned the tracks ran it back and forth by hand and seemed smooth no binding. So allthough it was no where near time we greased and oiled the sliders and the drives.
First cut we did it seems like the chatter cutting is greatly diminished allthough the cut quality wasnt the greatest.
@Jim I switched to the 85 Amp shielded consumables and followed the recomended settings for best quality. Take a look at the pictures below and tell me why it warps from one end to the other by so much.

Also in a couple it seems like the cut degrades as it goes along and seems to be trailing and barely piercing the metal by the time it gets across.

Thanks guys

JR

So im wondering is this the best it can do? Is my brother inlaw who owns the table expecting way too much? He is frusturated enough with it and the huge amount of time we have both spent on it that he says if it cant do any better then that he wants to send it back.
I really appreciate all the help you guys can give me. Once it can cut out decent consistent parts I want to try and do some custom work for people for a source of a job/ income for me as I am unable to work with my bad back. At this rate it doesnt look very good to try and sell anything that I cut.

[jimcolt]

I'm at a loss as to how the cut could be so bad! There is a seriouasly concave edge....as well as changing angularity. This indicates a badly damaged nozzle.....or seriously low torch air flow. How about a picture of the nozzle up close after one of these cuts was made?

Jim Colt

[JR S]

Jim heres the pic you requested of the consumables. my phone hasnt been working right to upload it. Settings for this cut is 1/2 in mild steel 85 amp 31 IPM 134 volts .18 pierce .06 cut height with HTC turned off. I have this week basically to figure it out and if not the owner of the table is sending it and the plasma cutter back. So i oppollogize if i ask a whole lot of questions while trying to figure this out. Thanks so much for all your help.

[BrianMick]

Hard to tell from the blurry pics but even blurry that nozzle looks to be way out of round and shot...........
Brian

[JR S]

Here's a better pic . The nozzle looks very round to me.

[JR S]

Sorry here's the pic

[BrianMick]

Here's a better pic . The nozzle looks very round to me.

not to me it doesn't. looks pretty oval.....get a magnifying glass or better yet a jewlers loop. It helps a lot.
when I zoom in on your picture it looks way out of round. or maybe it is just the angle of the picture.... did you try new consumables?
I'm sure jim will weigh in on this......
Brian

[gary42095]

im gonna suggest the torch height is wrong if its possible. also is that the right set of consumables ? i am running an 85 and my stuff don't look like that. just some thoughts maybe it can help

[jimcolt]

I cannot see the nozzle orifice good enough to make a judgement on its condition.

-the cut edge appears as though there is eather a seriously damaged nozzle or that there is extremely contaminated air or low air flow.
-The dross is a result of your cut speed.....31 ipm is way too slow for cutting 1/2" material at 85 amps.
-Arc voltage will only be valid if you have the height control active. The proper speed and cut height for 1/2" steel using the 85 amp shielded consumables is 45 inches per minut at .06" standoff. Adjust the voltage so that when the height control is active...the torch runs at .o6" off the plate....you can start at the voltage suggested in the Hypertherm cut chart, however it often needs to be tweaked to get the physical height corrected to .06"

Are you using the correct part numbers for all of the consumables....as listed at the top of your cut charts?

Jim Colt