Recommendations on the plasma machine

[acmg721]

Hi everyone,

for the needs of our customers often we need to cut stainless steel AISI304 from 0.8 to 3mm thick.
We don't know the plasma cutting. We know the Tumpf CO2 laser cutting machine but our financial capacity does absolutely not allow us to target a similar machine.
We are looking for a machine that allows us to have a similar cut quality (of stainless steel Aisi 304 3 mm thick) even at speeds much lower.
For us is very important to have good quality of cut in stainless steel AISI 304:dross-free cuts and without altering the colour of the material near the edge.
From what I understand many of you are familiar with the plasma cutting machine, so I ask you: can the plasma cutting machine have a good cut in stainless steel? What specifications should have: the power of the plasma source, etc..

Thank you
Mark.

[jimcolt]

Plasma can cut stainless steel quite well, however the edge quality will not be the same as a C02 or Fiber Laser system. Lasers use a high pressure nitrogen assist gas on stainless, and produce a square, clean edge. A high definition class plasma (such as a Hypertherm HPR130XD) uses F5 (5% hydrogen, 95% nitrogen) as the plasma gas and nitrogen as the shield gas....and will produce a weldable edge, but with a bit of taper.I would suggest a plasma system with at least 130 amps for best results.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[snoeproe]

Jim is on target.
Plasma does cut stainless steel quite well. Even with compressed air, the plasma cuts well but with compressed air, it will leave the cut edge black in color as the stainless steel will oxidize.
To cut stainless steel with a clean weldable edge (not a black finnish) you need to use the blended gas instead of compressed air to prevent oxidization on the cut edge.

[acmg721]

Hello guys
thanks for the replies.

A high definition class plasma (such as a Hypertherm HPR130XD) uses F5 (5% hydrogen, 95% nitrogen) as the plasma gas and nitrogen as the shield gas....and will produce a weldable edge, but with a bit of taper.I would suggest a plasma system with at least 130 amps for best results.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

I dont know if I understood correctly: only high definition plasma can use the blended gas?
The matter is that it would cost a bit. It seems that only Hypertherm HPR130XD costs 50000Usd.

Jim is on target.
Plasma does cut stainless steel quite well. Even with compressed air, the plasma cuts well but with compressed air, it will leave the cut edge black in color as the stainless steel will oxidize.
.

Black color is right near the edge (1-2mm) or larger?

Mark.

[mlinehan]

Here is the kind of cut I get using the nitrogen/water mist plasma process on stainless

0 degrees of bevel, ready to weld

[jimcolt]

The T-D water mist secondary is a nice process on stainless steel.....however there are no plasma processes that can guarantee a 0 degree bevel! In fact if you look closely at the best laser processes on thin stainless you see edge angularity promises in the 1 to 2 degree range. Ocassionally you will see a 0 degree bevel on a particular plasma part, however you cannot expect that on a large production run of parts.

The Hypertherm F5 high definition plasma cutting process produces parts that are very similar to the water mist process, without getting water on the plate, an important consideration in many cases. The pic is of 12 gauge stainless cut with the Hypertherm F5 process using an HPR130XD plasma system....no staining from water, weldable edge that is not discolored.

Jim Colt