Plasma Drag cutting

[jonesiera]

Does it take a Certain Plasma to Drag Cut. I would like to have a good explanation of this Procedure. I think I have an Idea of how to drag the torch but do you have to have a Specific Cutter that will allow you Drag cut ?
Thanks

[It's a dry heat]

A picture worth 1k but video. Click on operation video.

No special cutting tip for hypermax30. The tip used in the video is the standard tip that it comes with. I think your answers might be in the vidio link.

http://www.hypertherm.com/en/Information_Center/Videos/index.jsp

[toolaholic]

LIST YOUR MACHINE ,PLEASE! I have a hypertherm super max 600.
It uses a drag tip,among others. Like it:)

[georgiametalart]

On some of the larger machines you can get a drag tip that spaces the tip a little bit from the material. I drag cut with standard tips on 3/16 plate with the Spectrum 375 and it works great.

[NY-BOSSMAN]

On some of the larger machines you can get a drag tip that spaces the tip a little bit from the material. I drag cut with standard tips on 3/16 plate with the Spectrum 375 and it works great.

i have a thermal dynamic cutmaster39,i can drag on 3/16 and less with ease but anything thicker i use a standoff attachment

[Tom37]

I also use a Spectrum 375 with the standard tip setup and drag up to 3/16. Above that i use a modified drag tip from an old Thermal Dynamics cutter. I have recently started to experince the tip trying to stick to the material during a drag cut. Any ideas about why the tip would be trying to stick to the metal would be great. Thanks Tom

[Pumpkinhead]

Any ideas about why the tip would be trying to stick to the metal would be great. Thanks Tom

same reason a welding electrode sticks to a weldment, it arcs and 'welds' itself.


On some of the larger machines you can get a drag tip that spaces the tip a little bit from the material. I drag cut with standard tips on 3/16 plate with the Spectrum 375 and it works great.


if you did that you aren't dragging.
dragging with a larger (higher amperage) machine will damage it.
dragging a standard (non-insulated) tip with any machine reduces tip/electrode life due to arcing between the 'trode and tip.

[georgiametalart]

On my Spectrum 375 I use a straight edge guide that is about 3/16 thick when drag cutting. Using a taller guide will allow you to keep the tip slightly above the material you are cutting and that will keep the tip from sticking.

[Tom37]

Im sorry if i sounded like a dork when I ask why the tip would stick sometimes. But like everyone says (read a little before you ask a question) and I did. Now here is what i read,

(3. For standard (shielded) cutting, place the drag shield on the edge of the metal. For non-shielded cutting, use 1/8 in (3.2mm) standoff distance (dragging a non shielded tip on the metal will reduce tip life)

I took this as to mean for standard shielded cutting that You would place the tip right on the metal being Cut.

I do realixe that there is an arc just like a welder, and I also didnt understand why they would tell in the directions to make the contact between the tip and the metal.


As far as a guide after having the sticking troubles I started using a piece of 1 1/2 inch angle with the collar that holds the tip in against the steel. This hold the tip slightly less then 1/8 inch away from the metal. Again this is with a spectrun 375.

I guess that I shall research deeper on this subject since I dont understand why anyone would make and sell a machine that claims to be able to drag the tip right on the steel.

Thanks for the time and if I come up with a decent answer in the how to and why department I will post.

[Pumpkinhead]

I guess that I shall research deeper on this subject since I dont understand why anyone would make and sell a machine that claims to be able to drag the tip right on the steel.


Tom, the 375's, as well as most other plasma's, are capable of drag cutting with the proper setup. that said, the setup for your machine (Spectrum 375) to drag costs a whole lot more than what Miller equip's it with right out of the box. drag shield tips run 'bout 2X the price as the standard stand-off tip, same for the retaining cup (2X), then toss in the drag shield itself. it's just economy.

as i said in a different post, it's just better to learn the coordination and stand the tip off, or use a guide.

[Brand X]

The new Cutmaster type of machines can drag it's tip on the metal up to 60 amps. Pretty cool if needed!! Most machines like a older cutmaster or Esab allowed up to 40 amps without a fancy setup.

[Pumpkinhead]

The new Cutmaster type of machines can drag it's tip on the metal up to 60 amps. Pretty cool if needed!! Most machines like a older cutmaster or Esab allowed up to 40 amps without a fancy setup.

while it is true the new TD's allow dragging with a standoff tip up to 60A, dragging any standard tip, be it a lowly self compressed 12A unit or a 100A behemoth, reduces tip and electrode life through double-arcing. (the main plasma arc between the 'trode and the part and a second arc between the 'trode and the now 'grounded' tip.)

[Brand X]

while it is true the new TD's allow dragging with a standoff tip up to 60A, dragging any standard tip, be it a lowly self compressed 12A unit or a 100A behemoth, reduces tip and electrode life through double-arcing. (the main plasma arc between the 'trode and the part and a second arc between the 'trode and the now 'grounded' tip.)

True, but it does blow the tip up if you hit the metal by mistake. Try that with exposed tip on most machines using 60 amps output and see what happens to tip life.:D Probably beats the fold back circuit that kicks in at 40 amps on a older cutmaster series.