Metal cutting with plasma cutters has become so easy that it's tempting to take your new plasma cutter out of the box and go to work. But before you get started, here are a few tips to and some simple practices that can improve your cut quality.
- Safety first: read your Owner's manual safety section
- Get into a comfortable position using your free hand as support for your cutting hand that is gripping the torch.
- Practice the movement of your cut before pulling the trigger.
- Use a drag shield when available so you can place the torch directly in contact with the metal you are cutting. With non-shielded parts, hold an optimal 1/8 in standoff between the tip and the metal you are cutting. Standoff guides for use with non-shielded parts are available for most torches.
- When piercing material, start with the torch angles approximately 45 degrees away from your body to prevent molten metal splash back into the torch head.
- Start on the edge of the material and pull the trigger to initiate the pilot arc or pierce the metal per previous bullet. IMPORTANT NOTE: Keep a firm grip on the trigger throughout the cutting process. Lack of pressure on the trigger can cause arc outages.
- Bring the pilot arc in contact with the metal to be cut. The arc will connect to the metal and begin melting a fine area of the metal. The force of the arc will blow the molten metal through the bottom of the metal.
- Once the arc has penetrated the thickness of the material, begin to move slowing across the metal maintaining the tail of the arc beneath the metal being cut. The arc should exit the material at a 15 to 20 degree angle opposite the direction of travel.
- At the end of a cut, angle the torch forward to allow the tail of the arc to match the arc entry point and allow the cut piece to completely sever the two pieces of metal.
- There is an optimum speed for obtaining the best possible cut quality and minimizing dross build-up on the back side of the metal. Practicing cut speed on various thicknesses is recommended before beginning your job.
- For precise cuts, clamp a straight edge onto your metal piece as a guide or create a template for cutting multiple, same shape patterns.
For more resources regarding Plasma Cutting, go to http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/improving-your-skills/plasma/
Login or register to post comments
More Tips
Miller MIG Welding Tip #2: Proper Technique: Now that you have picked the perfect Millermatic MIG welder for your welding projects, it is time to cover some of the basic questions we
Miller Tip 8: Type and Size of Wire: Now that you have picked the perfect Millermatic® MIG welder for your welding projects, it is time to cover some of the basic questions we
Fixing Rim Pops: One common problem that off-roaders face is the hassle of a tire popping off the rim once you?ve aired your tire pressure down to tackle the
Get bugs off the front of the car: To get rid of those stuck-on bugs from the front of your car, use a dryer sheet with fabric softener in it. Use it just like a s rub pad,
Getting a Grip: How many times have you wanted to hold a part in your bench vise but were afraid the steel jaws of the vise would mar the part? Cut a couple
Gloves: Rod Peterson from Ormond Beach, FL says:
Forget latex, too many solvents in the shop will make them disappear--gasoline, lacquer thinner,
Use a Plumber's Torch...: Derek Beland from Edmonton, Alberta says: ?When removing stock rubber bushings to replace them with urethane, sometimes you have to reuse
Heads Up: Troy Bridger from Twillingate, NL says:
When lying under your rig, use a big soft drink (2 liter) bottle under your neck to help keep your
Keep Organized - Down to the Nuts and Bolts: Mike Counas from Columbia, SC says: ?As I grow older my eyesight and my memory are not what they used to be. I just finished installing a
Keeping the Wires Straight: Randy in Kansas sent in this tip:
The small plastic tags that are on bags of hamburger buns can be used on spark plug wires. Use a sharpie
Loosen a rusted bolt?: From Shawnigan Lake, BC:
Another alternative to loosen a rusted bolt is to go into the kitchen cupboard and grab the Tabasco sauce. This
Low on Dielectric Grease?: Nick from Fairhaven, MA says:
If you're in a bind and can't find your dielectric grease, use petroleium jelly. It's worked every time for
Magnetic Pickup: Sooner or later we all drop a container of nuts, bolts or clips and they scatter over the floor. I reach for a strong magnet, salvaged from
Magnetic Screwdriver?: From Henry, Lorain, OH says
When you need a magnetic screwdriver in a hurry, just wrap some turns of electrical wire around a screwdriver
Milk Crate Step Up: I know shop safety is the most important factor, so climbing onto a empty inverted 5 gallon bucket is out of the question while working on
Mud Removal: Do you love wheeling in the mud, but hate trying to remove the mud. Spray WD-40 in your wheel wells on the splash guards, and the mud will
