New to forum-wanting to improve my CNC game

[topher]

I'm a high school welding instructor with most of my years in the rearview mirror. Last June, our shop picked up a CNC and it's been a blast learning with the students. We've cut a lot of projects but other than slowing the speed down and reducing the amps (total guesswork), I don't venture off the automated settings and have yet to try cutting anything thicker than 1/8". I joined this forum to learn how to tweak our machine to run at it's optimum.

8' Forestscientific with Hypertherm XP45

[acourtjester]

If you download the manual for the XP45 it gives you all the info on the speeds by thickness of the materials.
Question answered freely here so just ask. You may find some interesting projects here use the search function in the upper right.

[adbuch]

Also - for cutting the thinner stuff (under 10 ga.) you have the option to use the Hypertherm FineCut consumables - which offer a narrower kerf width, less heat into the part (less warping,etc) and better detail for the finer detailed cuts. I use the FineCuts exclusively on the thinner material and they produce great results.

As Tom mentioned, the Hypertherm user's manual for your 45xp will have mechanized cut charts to show you the recommended settings for cut height, pierce height, cut speed, amp setting, pierce delay time, etc. I achieve the best results using these "book settings".

David

[Joe Jones]

I'm a high school welding instructor with most of my years in the rearview mirror. Last June, our shop picked up a CNC and it's been a blast learning with the students.

8' Forestscientific with Hypertherm XP45

Where are you located?

Joe


.

[adbuch]

Anytown USA??

[HypHyDef]

I'm a high school welding instructor with most of my years in the rearview mirror. Last June, our shop picked up a CNC and it's been a blast learning with the students. We've cut a lot of projects but other than slowing the speed down and reducing the amps (total guesswork), I don't venture off the automated settings and have yet to try cutting anything thicker than 1/8". I joined this forum to learn how to tweak our machine to run at it's optimum.

8' Forestscientific with Hypertherm XP45

Welcome to the forum, if there is anything I can help you with regarding your Powermax45 XP please let me know. I think it's great that you are helping out students and trying to learn more so you can help them more. Shows great commitment.