cutting 14ga copper with hypertherm 45 powermax

[harrymorley]

anyone ever cut 14ga copper with hypertherm 45 powermax. Im cutting a project out of a 16x16 sheet and would like to get a start point for amps and cutspeed setting. thanks

[motoguy]

Good timing. I need to cut some 1/8" copper tomorrow. So, tag for info, I guess.

I've been told it cuts like AL, and just "cut a bit slower", but that's all I have so far.

[Old Iron]

I have cut copper, I reduced the air pressure to around 60 psi with aluminum speed setting at 40 amps.

[motoguy]

I have cut copper, I reduced the air pressure to around 60 psi with aluminum speed setting at 40 amps.

Thanks for the info! Why the reduction in air pressure? Which nozzle at 40A ?

[Old Iron]

45 amp
The reason I said 40 amp is I'm using a Powermax 600.
I just had better results at 60 psi but, on your Powermax 45 machine I'd run 45 amp and factory settings for 14ga aluminum. Run a couple test cuts and adjust the psi to what works for you.

[harrymorley]

Thanks guys..appreciate it

[motoguy]

Wow. I cut some of the 1/8" copper yesterday. Started with 1/8" AL settings, and it was WAAAY off. Mostly just gouging the surface. Book speed on AL is 170ipm...I had to slow the copper part down to 45ipm to get the cut quality I wanted (reduced taper, complete through-cut, etc). Was shocked to see how much I needed to slow it down.

The piece/cuts were small enough I didn't even use THC, so I didn't pay attention to the voltage. Just touched off, raised to pierce height (015), then down to cut height (060). The tiny amount of dross I had on the back was awesome...literally just kind of rubbed it with my finger, and it broke off.

[Old Iron]

Motoguy, It's been 4 years since I cut the copper plate and you are correct, the ipm has to be slowed drastically. Sorry for any confusion.