plasma cutting thick aluminum plate

[plasmabay]

Looking for advice on cutting 1/2" and 3/4" aluminum plate ... I realize this may be pushing the limit of what plasma can do, I have a smaller diy table and have had success cutting 1/4" aluminum plate.

For these thicker plates, the designs I need to do are simple shapes, nothing too intricate or small.

Amps, air pressure, ipm? Is preheating the plate a silly idea or might that help? Would love to see some pics / setups of those who cut thick Al regularly.

Thanks!

[adbuch]

Here is some information you may find helpful.
David

https://espritautomation.com/plasma-cutting-aluminium/

cutting aluminum.jpg

https://www.hypertherm.com/en-US/resour ... -aluminum/

cutting aluminum 1.jpg

[tinspark]

Very good info David. Thanks!

[weldguy]

I used to cut a lot of 1/2 aluminum with decent results. If you using a Hypertherm plasma you can just go with the book specs and so long as you have good air quality and the plate wasn't out in the cold all night you should get decent results. You will find that as you cut parts and get more heat in to the plate things will start to cut better but I have never bothered to preheat the plate.

[plasmabay]

Thanks all for the replies!

[plasmabay]

I used to cut a lot of 1/2 aluminum with decent results. If you using a Hypertherm plasma you can just go with the book specs and so long as you have good air quality and the plate wasn't out in the cold all night you should get decent results. You will find that as you cut parts and get more heat in to the plate things will start to cut better but I have never bothered to preheat the plate.

My only gripe with thick Al plasma cutting is the cuts look like a cat chewed it off, vs steel. lol good grief. Did you have to sand/grind the edges of your cuts afterwards? It's really a rough finish imo.

[weldguy]

I used to cut a lot of 1/2 aluminum with decent results. If you using a Hypertherm plasma you can just go with the book specs and so long as you have good air quality and the plate wasn't out in the cold all night you should get decent results. You will find that as you cut parts and get more heat in to the plate things will start to cut better but I have never bothered to preheat the plate.

My only gripe with thick Al plasma cutting is the cuts look like a cat chewed it off, vs steel. lol good grief. Did you have to sand/grind the edges of your cuts afterwards? It's really a rough finish imo.

Yes, the edge had a granular and porous look, not nice looking or smooth like steel. I was always cutting blanks that were to be machined, basically just getting the general shape and dimension to eliminate a lot of machining on the mill.

[plasmabay]

I used to cut a lot of 1/2 aluminum with decent results. If you using a Hypertherm plasma you can just go with the book specs and so long as you have good air quality and the plate wasn't out in the cold all night you should get decent results. You will find that as you cut parts and get more heat in to the plate things will start to cut better but I have never bothered to preheat the plate.

My only gripe with thick Al plasma cutting is the cuts look like a cat chewed it off, vs steel. lol good grief. Did you have to sand/grind the edges of your cuts afterwards? It's really a rough finish imo.

Yes, the edge had a granular and porous look, not nice looking or smooth like steel. I was always cutting blanks that were to be machined, basically just getting the general shape and dimension to eliminate a lot of machining on the mill.

Ok thanks yep that's what I'm seeing also. From what I've learned, aluminum better to be milled / cut with routers and woodworking tools is about the best route. Or a cnc router. Don't know if water jet makes a nicer cut in thick aluminum or not.

Also wonder about using nitrogen or h2o instead of air when plasma cutting Al.