To much dross

[retiredcpo]

Ok I dont have any pics but Im cutting 14 guage with the HD 260 machine running the 30 amp consumables
Cut accuracy and quality is good Im even using the punch feature to center mark hole to be drill and tapped out to 10-32 which is working great.
but Im getting alot of under side dross(if I use the same consumables on 16 guage i get allmost no dross) I am running the factory setting(cutting speed is 60 ipm)
I cant decide if I should try the 50 amp consumables or try upping the speed any suggestions
Retiredcpo

[Largemouthlou]

Try increesing the speed by 10 ipm.. Jim always says to cut with the lowes amp tip you can.

[retiredcpo]

ok Ill try it
Was going to try bot but thought I would ask and see what imput I got as to which one first
Ill let you know how it turns out
retiredcpo

[retiredcpo]

tried the 50 amp head today and increased the speed to allmost twice the factory settings
with no great change on dross
I tried the 80 consumables and it cut Great the best cut speed was at 410 ipm and there was barely enough dross to catch your finger nail on.
retiredcpo

[JJsCustomDesigns]

410ipm? geeezus. that seems a little fast... unless your cutting air. Is your cut height correct?

[retiredcpo]

I would (hate to say the word) Assume so.
its factory settings
And it is screaming fast but the cut is great
Like I said I tried the 50 amp consumables but the dross was very heavy no matter what speed I tried
the only thing I did not try was the 30 amp parts but that seams a bit cold to me but im new to this
with the 50 amp parts the speed was down around 120 ipm if I rember correctly accurcy was great but dross was heavy and hard to remove.
Im going to try some 10 guage tommarrow
retiredcpo

[JJsCustomDesigns]

your pierce height should be 1/8th of an inch off the material. Cut height should be 1/16th of a inch off the material.

I would double check your cut and pierce heights with a set of gauge blocks. Or even a piece of scrap 10 gauge ( roughly 1/8th" ). There shouldnt be any reason you have to stray to far off the manual to get great results.

i use 60 amp consumables (hypertherm plasma) for everything i cut, 16 gauge to 3/8".
I have real good cuts using 60 amp tips on 10g. I just turn the plasma down to 40amps.

[retiredcpo]

I was thinking the 80 amp stuff was too fast but it works good
I was thinking about retring the 50 amp parts but I had poor results
My machine does not have 60 amp options
I have had real good luck with 30 amp on 16 guage
really have not had much luck with the 50 amp stuff at all
retiredcpo