Powermax stainless cut quality improvement

[jimcolt]

Powermax65, 85, and 105 systems can now use F5 premixed gas....which is 5% Hydrogen and 95% nitrogen for those jobs where a non oxidized, ready to weld cut face is needed on stainless steel from 10 gauge (about 1/8") up through 1". This will require a high pressure cylinder along with a regulator to bring the gas pressure to between 90 and 135 psi at the inlet of the Powermax unit. A document can be downloaded from the Hypertherm website....click on "Downloads Library" at the top of the page and enter part number 809060 .....and you can save the document as a .pdf file.

The document lists cut charts for cutting at 45, 65, 85, and 105 amps using the shielded consumables.

Here is a picture of an F5 cut (top) as compared to an air cut (bottom) on 1/2" stainless steel.



Any questions? Jim Colt Hypertherm

[Oldendum]

Wow. White bread on top, black bread on the bottom. Impressive.

What accounts for the slightly s-shaped cut lines? For that matter, why does conventional air cutting look so burnt? Enquiring minds want to know.

[jimcolt]

The bottom cut with air (roughly 20% oxygen, 80% N2) gets a small boost from the oxygen....which has a thinning effect on molten stainless, unfortunately the oxygen from the cut gas and from the ambient air oxidizes the edge...hence the dark color and poor weldability.

The 5% Hydrogen in F5 acts as a reducing gas....essentially it burns and consumes all of the oxygen from ambient air around the cut, eliminating the oxidation. The edge is weldable, clean and should have minimal porosity. Because there is no oxygen the cuts speeds are slower and the edge striations are different.

Jim Colt

Wow. White bread on top, black bread on the bottom. Impressive.

What accounts for the slightly s-shaped cut lines? For that matter, why does conventional air cutting look so burnt? Enquiring minds want to know.

[Brand X]

https://arclightcnc.com/wp-content/u...Cut_Charts.pdf