HYPERTHERM CUTTING SPEED RECOMMENDATIONS

Hypertherm is the largest manufacturer of light industrial plasma generators and torches.  The charts below are copied from their PowerMax 1650 Operators Manual (page 4-17). These charts show plasma cutting speeds Hypertherm feels are best for this representative, very popular plasma generator.

If it is your intention to cut thinner materials your plasma cutting table must be capable of speeds well in excess of 300 inches per minute.  Cutting at speeds below optimum will result in excess dross (slag) on the underside of your cuts.

 Is speed important? It is ESSENTIAL. Speed equals clean cuts. If a competing firm tells you cutting speed or rapid traverse speed is not important it is because their machine is incapable of speeds you need for clean cuts. One CNC cutting table manufacturer claims cutting speeds in excess of 150 inches per minute are not needed. The chart below from Hypertherm tells a different story.

           

Do you need the 1000 inches per minute rapid traverse speeds Dynatorch is capable of?  Rapid traverse moves are non-cutting miscellaneous moves needed to cut parts. Unless you have time to waste, speed equals part cutting efficiency.