Update: Initially, I did not have a lead-in but found that with a lead-in and sufficient pierce time delay that I could pierce 3/4’ steel plate. The dross was heavy but chipped off easily. Some of the circle cuts were conical, so I may need to slow the feed rate during initial pierce of inside circles.
Kerf width: .086
Feed Rate: 7 ipm
Pierce Delay: 2.5 s
Pierce Height: .16 in
Plunge Rate: 100 ipm
Cut height: .06 in
Lead-in: .50 in
Lead-out: .50 in
the easiest way to “edge” start for something like that would be to do a layout on the steel…then drill holes in the steel…then make your lead in- lead out…correspond to the holes.
increase your lead length…
that is what would do…but something tells me the other guys might have better ideas…
There’s a fella on youtube who started with an original Crossfire and now has the pro who has been cutting 3/4” and 1” steel with his Hypertherm 85. That is someone whose brain you need to pick.
Its going to struggle and definitely all its going to want to do but if your forced to do it increase your pierce height and maybe slow down your plunge rate a bit to get a pierce. LIke @toolboy said increase your lead in.
New consumables would also be a good idea because you’re going to chew through them cutting that thickness.
No need to reinvent the wheel, seriously get in touch with this guy.
Great advice all the way around, thank you so much!
I will reach out to this gentleman and let you all know what I end up doing.
Its not reinventing the wheel but there’s a big difference between a 45xp and a hypertherm 85 cutting thick material.