TorchTableTraining

Chuck Harrison Torch Table Training

I signed up for a class offered local to me (Seattle) by Rusty Oliver. First session 27-Nov-2012.

Rusty has a 5x10 ft Torchmate table with a Hypertherm PowerMax 1000 plasma cutter good for about 60 amps. It cuts 3/8-in comfortably and struggles with 1/2-in steel.

Notes:

• Plasma cutting takes a lot of compressed air, count on a 3-5 hp compressor with a 60 gal tank.
• Water in the air cuts down lifetime of the consumables (torch electrode parts) dramatically. Use filter-driers.
• Torch height is critical to good cut quality. 1/8-1/4 inch is typical.
• Rusty has a Torchmate automatic height control Z axis but it has not been very effective. Tends to hunt up and down
  • Z axis is a servo (not stepper), which means it can sense load via motor current
  • To find part surface prior to striking arc, Z axis drives torch down until it hits part, then backs up
  • During cutting, Z axis is controlled to maintain a desired arc voltage
  • Different standoff heights are used for piercing and subsequent cutting.
  • Automatic height control is a separate module (not part of the PC-based software) with several programmable parameters
• Torchmate software provides basic 2D drawing capability, tool path generation (kerf allowance), import DXF, svg. Generates and executes G code. Many features I have not learned about yet.
• Cut quality is worse than I expected. Lots of dross and several degrees bevel in ~3/16-inch thick steel.