Thanks for that. I can’t be positive the square isn’t moving, but it mostly is held up by the slag so it can’t be moving by much.
If you have time, just for a point of discussion, what do you think is happening?
My thought was that since the flame lags behind on the bottom, when the leadin intersects the cut path the flame isn’t vertical and that was what was causing the “peak” on the bottom.
So I started slowing down the leadin speed and its slowed duration trying to get the flame more vertical when it hits the cut line. It helped a little, but not enough, so i included overcuts as well thinking it would cut the peak off, but double cutting that area just made things worse.
Tinwhisperer suggested a 90 deg. leadin with overcut. That 90 deg. lead with the path rule slow down at the intersection might work to get the flame more vertical at that point. I will try it today.
Brownfox suggested tangent leads right in the corner, which would bypass the problem rather than fix it, but hey, whatever works.
I started to mention the trailing plasma stream earlier. That could be the booger you see at the finish instead of the start. Me determining what’s going on the first thing I would check is to confirm that the pierce height and cut height is correct seems like you may have already tested that maybe or it was someone else? Then confirm the pierce is completely through the material before it moves. Another honorable mention this one was very noticeable for me was the speed hypertherm recommended slowing down 20 percent when cutting over a water table. Their charts are determined using a down draft table. I can’t say that for the sync I am unsure about that. Then I would see if it is moving anywhere before the cut is complete.
I will look later and see if I can find pictures of some 1/2 inch I cut to see if you can see the starts. It will be later this evening or late tonight before I can. I will also dig up a thread I started on adjusting settings for 1/3 inch.
I sure appreciate your brainstorming with me. The cut and pierce heights are per Hyp. specs. Feeler gauged them in a while ago, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to recheck them. Pretty sure I am getting full penetration too, the slag stops flying before any movement starts.
Am getting a fair bit of bottom dross, that is what is supporting the block, which from what i understand indicates too slow a travel speed. When I up it the slag gets worse and slowing it down doesn’t change much either. I have raised the slats about 1 1/4" above the water level trying to reduce bottom cooling and so am just using the book numbers for speed. The slag comes off cleanly with just a touch of the chipping hammer and the edges are sharp, so i am just leaving that alone for now.
I tried the 90 deg. leadin Tin suggested, with and without an over cut, and the non overcut trial was the best. Double cutting even just 0.125 really messed it up.
I will have to try and determine where it actually occurs, the start or the stop, should have done that right away, i suppose.
Thanks again for your help.
You will get there. Keep in mind the thicker the material the more slag you will have. You get to 5/8 and thicker it is horrible almost but normal. I will get you some pictures. I am sure you are good on the cut height I was just thinking aloud was pretty sure you had checked it already.
Yea, I would like to see them for an idea of what is and what isn’t possible. Don’t blow a gasket trying to dig stuff up though, I tried Brownfoxs idea of tangential leads on the corners and it worked slick.
I can live with bypassing problems as opposed to fixing them.
Here’s my lead in and out on 3/8 steel (AR500 but that’s not a factor). All I did was knock the dross off the back with another piece of metal, maybe wipe down the front.
Well…maybe leadin/out blemishes are inevitable in this game. As Phillip indicated, it’s nothing a grinder can’t fix.
Thanks for your help, and the pics, as they say “Misery loves company”.
Here are some pictures for you . This one is some commercially cut 1/2 they have been around a while so it’s a little rusty.
Here is some 3/8 I cut you can see sheetcam put the start in a corner.
Here is a 1/2 I did with the mistake of cutting on the line. I forgot to change the settings on this one. The second is some 5/8.
Here is a thread that has some pictures. It has some information about the cuts not really related to your issue. They are not dialed in the best here. Funny effects of difference computer and fire control versions
You are running 45 amps which 1/2 is on the upper side of its cutting spectrum.
Thanks for the pics, Brownfox sent me a few as well to have a look at. The donut on your older thread you showed is almost exactly the same kind of “pimple” i am getting, the only difference being on mine, the pimple continues to the top, tapering to zero at the top. On yours it was just at the bottom.
You were thinking the computer you were using may have been part of the problem. Mine is an older Thinkpad that can only carry Windows 7, so I am using version 20.6 of Firecontrol. Plus, as you mentioned, I am at the upper limit of my piercing capability with a sync 45.
I guess i will have to learn a few more tweaks, and then be happy it is as good as it is!
Thank for all your help, Phillip, it is very much appreciated.