FineCut consumables improve cut quality for Polish job shop

Company overview: Polish job shop

A Polish job shop provides welding, cutting, and general metal production services – basically handling any job that is related to metal – for its customers. The job shop’s customers are businesses looking for individualized solutions for their routine business needs, and the quality of the cuts is extremely important to both the job shop and its customers.

Challenge: Existing cutting machines provide poor cut quality

The job shop’s cutting machines were not meeting its needs for cut quality. Both the cut quality and metal finish were not good enough, and the job shop needed to find a new cutting system that would deliver the results that the job shop and its customers required.

Solution: Powermax45 XP with FineCut consumables improves cut quality

The job shop switched to the Powermax45^® XP to improve cut quality on all jobs. The job shop also added Hypertherm’s FineCut^® consumables for cutting intricate, fine-featured shapes. Using the Powermax45 XP with the right torch and consumables enabled the job shop to successfully undertake more challenging cutting jobs with fine features and complex parts.

The Powermax45 XP

Powermax^® systems allow operators to tackle any job, offering the most extensive manual and automated metal cutting and gouging capabilities of any metal removal method or plasma brand. The Powermax45 XP plasma cutter provides fast cut speeds and automatic gas adjustment for quick, simple setup and operation up to a recommended cut capacity of 16 mm (5/8 inch). Duramax^® Lock torches support handheld and mechanized cutting of a wider range of metal thicknesses, along with precision gouging such as spot weld removal and marking capabilities.

The Powermax45 XP is compact and lightweight, enabling flexibility and versatility. It is the ideal portable plasma cutter for a 16 mm (5/8 inch) rated cutting system and can be used for drag cutting, fine feature cutting, mechanized cutting, flush cutting, marking, max control and precision gouging, and extended reach cutting and gouging.

Powermax45 XP benefits include:

• Patented drag-cutting technology makes the Powermax45 XP easy to use – even for first-time operators.

• Smart Sense™ technology ensures that air pressure is always correctly set.

• CNC interface and FastConnect™ torch connection allow both handheld and mechanized operation.

• A wide range of torch and consumable styles is available to choose from based on job requirements.

• The Powermax45 XP can handle an extensive array of application capabilities via specialty consumables for fine feature cutting, extended reach cutting,gouging, precision gouging, and marking.

• Cut speeds are 1.5 times faster than oxyfuel on 6 mm (¼ inch) mild steel.

• Superior cut and gouge quality reduces the time for grinding and edge preparation.

• New torch disable switch feature allows faster, easier changeout of consumables.

• SpringStart™ technology ensures consistent starting and optimum torch performance.

FineCut consumables

FineCut consumables are ideal for cutting fine-featured shapes out of thin sheet metal. These specialty consumables are specifically engineered to provide more square edges, tighter tolerances, and a narrower kerf on thin metals. The narrower kerf and stiffer arc produced by FineCut consumables enable high-quality cuts on jobs with very fine details and intricate shapes. 

FineCut consumables work with both hand-held and machine-mounted Powermax plasma torches. When FineCut consumables are used for hand cutting, operators simply install the consumables onto the torch and start cutting.

Getting the best quality cuts using FineCut consumables on a machine torch requires assessing the CNC machine’s capabilities. Operators should ensure the table has a rigid torch mount, a good torch height control system, and the cut speed capabilities necessary to produce smooth cuts with square edges.

FineCut consumables work best on mild and stainless steel, up to 45 amps. For the best cut consistency and nozzle life, operators should use a shield and not a deflector. Operators should also wipe the front of the torch clean before using the torch since spatter will impact cut quality and performance.  

Applications that require fine feature cutting include cutting thinner material, cutting material with a lot of detail, cutting intricate shapes, and cutting material that requires very tight tolerances.

Business impact: Hypertherm delivers increased cut quality, and enables business expansion

The Powermax45 XP has increased cut quality for the job shop, delivering the high-quality cut and metal finish the job shop needs to meet its client’s expectations. At the same time, the narrower kerf and stiffer arc produced by Hypertherm's FineCut consumables enable the job shop to take on projects with very fine details and intricate shapes, so the job shop was able to expand its business and add more difficult jobs with complex parts.

Learn how the Powermax45 XP can help your business strike the perfect balance between cut quality, cut speed, and cost. Click the button below, fill out the form, and a Hypertherm product expert will contact you.