Finally my first cut

[harold]

After procastinating for months and reading everything I could find on plasma cutting I finally turned mine on. Bought the Spectrum 625 in December when Miller had the special and thats as far as I got. Worryed about the air supply having moisture in it and ruining the torch and a lot of other imaginary problems. A lot of dry runs over several weeks but that was the extent of it. Anyway I had some 3/8" diamond plate scrap and Oh well I swallowed hard and turned it on. Results arn't real pretty, they don't look nearly as good as the pictures in the brocures of quality cuts or even severence cuts that the machine is capable of but they are my first attempts. I knocked the slag off the bottom with my chipping hammer but otherwise nothing. Anyway here are the pictures. The first one is my first attempt. the other picture is 8 cuts later. Ran out of material but will hit the scrapyard tomorrow and then practice a little more.

[harold]

Second picture

Somehow only one picture showed up. Here is the second one

[Guest]

Looks good to me, Harold.

[Sberry]

I agree with Rocky, those are not all that bad considering the thickness. Get some 10 gauge and give it a whirl and you will see where that machine really shines.

[MikeR]

I just test drove the same machine, and I cut 1/2" plate with absolutely no problem. Those cuts of yours are just fine! I'm sure they used a robot or track welder set up to make the cuts you see in brochures and the catolog. I don't know if it makes any difference, but there's no need to angle the torch like you are.

[deere_x475guy]

Harold..they sure look a lot better than my first cuts. Took just a little practice but now I am able to cut all the material for my bucket with no grinding for for fit up. Sure speeded up my process to build these. I also use the gouging tip and extended tip for some things. This machine has really helped me out.

Have fun...

Bob

[Hobart Expert Rock]

HAROLD..............YOUR COMMING RIGHT ALONG........... YOUR DOING FINE.............ROCK..................
[email protected]

[HELLTACO]

Originally posted by MikeR
I don't know if it makes any difference, but there's no need to angle the torch like you are.

Is dat torch angle or jus da wrong travel speed?

[MikeR]

If it was too fast of travel speed, those lines in the kerf wouldn't be straight. What you see there is him angling the torch, which, again, I don't know how that affects the cut.

[harold]

I Don't know if the problem is travel speed, torch angle or a combination of both. I clamped a piece of a bed slat across the scrap metal and then angled the torch to start it and hit the trigger, then slowly raised my hand until I had penetrated with the sparks coming out the bottom of the metal and dragged it likity split across. Even so I don't think I was anywhere near the chart speed the manual recommends (30"/min).
Oh yes thanks to everyone for all the comments. I was pretty reluctant to turn this equipment on and try it never having seen it done. Now it doesn't seem so daunting but would still be nice to see someone who knows what they are doing use it.
Again thanks everyone

[Roger]

Your doing great. A few hundred cuts on different metal and your the expert.

One thing impressed me about plasma diference was plasma stream cutting metal 1/2 inch below primary cut. That couldn't happen with OAC.

[Guest]

Originally posted by harold
I Don't know if the problem is travel speed, torch angle or a combination of both. I clamped a piece of a bed slat across the scrap metal and then angled the torch to start it and hit the trigger, then slowly raised my hand until I had penetrated with the sparks coming out the bottom of the metal and dragged it likity split across. Even so I don't think I was anywhere near the chart speed the manual recommends (30"/min).
Oh yes thanks to everyone for all the comments. I was pretty reluctant to turn this equipment on and try it never having seen it done. Now it doesn't seem so daunting but would still be nice to see someone who knows what they are doing use it.
Again thanks everyone

I'm not too far from you , Harold... maybe I can swing by. Email me if ya want.

[HELLTACO]

Originally posted by Rocky D


I'm not too far from you , Harold... maybe I can swing by. Email me if ya want.

Chu cud swings by my place too fer a chat. I lives by Monument Park.