@yekcoh Get that thing cutting so we can see what project you’re working on. Everyone loves project pictures.
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I promise I’m getting there!
@mechanic416 I tried the 60a setting as suggested at 40ipm and it was a bit of a disaster: penetration failure. Not even halfway, just bubbled
So you aren’t even getting it to pierce now? Are you still on the same electrode you started with. If you are still using the same one from the pic swap it out. Your work clamp is attached to the plate you are cutting right? Do you have a good clean connection from the work clamp to the metal? Check the work clamp connection at the cutter as well. Any sign of any arcing at the work clamp connection.
No, the cutter is able to complete the 7 minute cut at 45A with minor hiccups. Others suggested trying higher amp for cutting 3/8 and I’m not successful with higher than 46A.
Oh gotcha. Sorry I misunderstood. That is curious/
Then you have other problems.
It’s ar500 steel. Could that be a little harder than mild steel?
Uh, yea. AR500 is a very high internally stressed high carbon steel. Tensile yield of around 215 KSI (for reference, most tools that are in the oil-field, ie go down hole for drilling, are in the 140-180KSI range depending on application). That stuff is HARD, and it’s intended to be for extreme abrasion resiliance and gouging deformation (hint hint here).
It’s used for cement mixer blades, rock crushers, metal maceraters, etc.
Definitely not going to be easy to cut with “normal” plasma speeds n feeds. There’s a reason most companies water jet (or laser) the stuff.
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THC is not “nice” but a must for plasma cutting.