Thermal arc plasma cutting 0.5mm aluminium sheet 1

[Peter64]

We manufacture mechanised plasma cutting systems and have been approached with a request to cut HVAC parts from the above.
Thermal expansion properties of aluminium combined with the high temperatures involved with the process indicate that system instability is likely to be a significant effect.


It certainly looks improbable as an undertaking, but before shutting the door, has anyone actually tried cutting nested parts continually?

 

[BillPSU]

I've cut long parts 160" long by 1/2" parts out of a single sheet. Many short parts up to 24" length and 1" thick out of a single sheet of material. The parts were on a water table and didn't have a problem with heat. Material was A36 or 50k steel material. Machine used 4-head MG torch with Hypotherm heads.

Are you cutting dry and what material thickness? If this is thin material, less than 12 gauge material warpage may be a problem. Laser cutting may be a better solution or simply nibbling with a punch.

Give me more information on you parts.

 

[Peter64]

Thermal expansion properties of aluminium combined with the high temperatures involved with plasma cutting process indicate that system instability is likely to be a significant effect. This looks likely to be the case cutting 0.5mm aluminium sheet.


It certainly looks improbable as an undertaking, but before shutting the door, has anyone actually tried cutting nested parts continually?

 

[IFRs]

We cut aluminum with a plasma torch, 0.090" to 0.25" thick. Works pretty well if slightly ragged edges are OK. Also, you can not weld to the aluminum onc eit is plasma cut without serious preparation (we just gave up)

 

[Peter64]

I pointed out that we're dealing with 0.5mm aluminium (1/50")