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Cutting Scenarios:

Hypertherm: Life Expectancy of Consumables

Posted on October 13, 2021September 12, 2022 by adorfon

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Cutting Scenarios
Hypertherm Patented Solutions for Longer Life

It’s hard to offer an exact (or even an in-exact) estimate of the number of factors that impact the life expectancy of a plasma cutter consumable —operator experience, type and age of the torch, material type and thickness, air quality, etc. However, when the operator understands good piercing and edge-starting techniques which keep molten metal from blowing back onto the torch nozzle (or tip if it is a non-Hypertherm system) then the life of the consumable can be extremely long. Hence, Hypertherm plasma cutter consumables have an edge over conventional plasma cutting machines.

Cutting Scenarios:

The biggest problem with most plasma cutter torches occurs when hand cutting with exposed (unshielded) nozzle-torch consumables. Ideally, you need to hold a standoff, with an unshielded setup at all amperages greater than 30 amps or so. If the nozzle touches the plate during a cut, it creates an electric current path between the negative electrode, nozzle, and positive plate. This causes a double arc between the electrode and nozzle, and the nozzle and plate, which damages the nozzle’s orifice. When the orifice gets a little damaged, poor angularity is the first thing you’ll notice, followed by more double arcs and more damage. Eventually, you’ll notice slower cut speeds and heavy dross, at which point you’ll likely change your nozzle.

Secondly, some people use a standoff device to hold the torch up off the metal. Unfortunately, molten metal can still blowback during piercing, once again passing electricity from the nozzle to the plate and leading to double arcing. If you have used a handheld torch with an exposed nozzle at more than 30 amps while drag cutting, you’ve likely felt the torch “sticking” to the plate. This is a result of double arcing.

Hypertherm Patented Solutions for Longer Life:

One way around this problem is through the use of shielded torch technology, invented and patented by Hypertherm in the ’80s. The shield works to electrically isolate the nozzle from the plate to totally eliminate double arcing. Hypertherm plasma shielded torches drag cut at up to 200 amps with no friction or double arcing for a dramatic improvement in a plasma cutter consumable’s life and cut quality.

In the last 30 or so years since Hypertherm introduced shielded torch technology, engineers have made enormous strides in extending the life of these consumables. For example, our Duramax torches of Hypertherm plasma systems come with the new standard consumables with nearly all new Powermax systems and as a retrofit torch for older Hypertherm systems and use the shield for just nozzle isolation. The shield and nozzle for these torches use a patented technology called Conical Flow to inject greater airflow around the perimeter of the arc. This increases the energy density of the arc and provides better cooling to the nozzle. This results in no sticking, no double arcing, offering faster-cut speeds, thicker piercing capability, and dramatically longer nozzle life.

So, assuming you are using a Hypertherm plasma Duramax torch with the latest consumable technology, then I would expect you to cut hundreds of feet of metal. In addition, you should be able to make between 600 and 1,200 pieces, after which you would need to replace only your electrode. All your remaining Hypertherm consumables would likely continue to work just fine. Put another way, you should be able to get between 2 and 4 full days of actual arc-on time before needing to replace any of your consumables.

This is why Ador Fontech Limited, the name synonymous with total solutions for any Maintenance & Repair solutions, recommends Hypertherm plasma with Duramax Torch and consumables as a robust cutting solution to all our customers. “Using Spurious/Counterfeit consumables is nothing but a shortcut to machine breakdown & loss of warranty.”

Hypertherm: Cutting Made Easy

Posted on August 4, 2021September 12, 2022 by adorfon

Table of Contents

Four tough jobs made easier with Duramax Hyamp Long Torch
- Skeleton removal
- Scrapping
- Structural demolition
- Processing coils, test coupons, and castings
Additional benefits for all four jobs

Four tough jobs made easier with Duramax Hyamp Long Torch

We all know that processing metal can be a hard job. It’s hot, dirty, and then there are the physical demands it can put on your body. Metal is heavy, and depending on the size of the plate, difficult to move. It becomes even harder to maneuver when the metal is welded into a sub-assembly or final product. Then to further complicate matters, there are staff shortages, safety concerns, cost constraints, and of course, deadlines to meet.

What if there was a better way to do some jobs? Hypertherm created the Duramax Hyamp Long torch with exactly that aim in mind. Jing Wu, Hypertherm’s lead engineer on this project explains, “We want to help our customers and keep them safe.” Wu and his team based the new handheld torch’s design on what operators told them, and what they themselves observed in shops, yards, and plants. It was clear that “extended reach” is beneficial for several reasons, and by offering longer torch-body lengths, existing Hypertherm – Powermax owners could expand their range of applications.

Here are four jobs that get immediately improved by adding the Duramax Hyamp Long torch to your Hypertherm Cutting System.

1. Skeleton removal

If you’re using oxyacetylene to cut and remove skeletons from your table bed, it’s slowing down your production line. Undoubtedly, Hypertherm Plasma Cutting is faster than oxyfuel but by switching to the Duramax Hyamp Long torch, you can do the same job in a third to a quarter of the time. Existing long torch customers report skeleton removal from heavy industrial CNC beds is so fast, that jobs previously taking an hour, now can be finished in less than 15 to 20 minutes. The savings add up fast.

2. Scrapping

Every scrapper will benefit from having a long torch in their yard. Not only can plasma cut steel, stainless, and aluminum, it cut exotic metals, like copper and brass, and alloys too. The portability of Hypertherm Powermax plasma systems like Powermax 45 & Powermax 65 makes it possible to demolish large-scale depreciated machinery out in the yard, allowing for larger, more lucrative trades with mills. The Duramax Hyamp Long torch is also better than a shear at making long cuts. Plus, it frees up shears to cut the smaller pieces into dimensions required by steel mills, thus making the shear more productive as well.

3. Structural demolition

Structural steel companies tearing down buildings and other facilities, like decommissioned nuclear plants or sports stadiums, use multiple long torches to speed up the job. Completing the job faster saves on labor costs, but it helps them earn their contractual performance incentives too. Hence this Long torch solution connected with Hypertherm Power Systems is most ideal for such jobs.

4. Processing coils, test coupons, and castings

Mills manufacturing steel and other metals are hot places. Furnace’s heat, melt and liquefy raw ore and recycled scrap metal to form new rolled and cast metal products. As noted above, the long torch creates more distance and allows operators to stand further away from the radiant heat, translating to less fatigue and more productivity to customers underlining the benefits of Hypertherm Plasma Systems.

Additional benefits for all four jobs

The Hypertherm Plasma with Duramax Hyamp Long torch is safer to use. It’s ergonomic, allowing operators to work from comfortable positions. The length of the torch body and the angle of the cutting head lets operators stand upright, while still gaining the accessibility they need. Operators avoid back pain that results from having to bend over repeatedly to ignite the flame torch with a striker and operators can stand beside CNC tables, rather than on top of the cutting bed.

This is why Ador Fontech Limited, the name synonymous with total solutions for any Maintenance & Repair solutions offers Hypertherm Duramax Hyamp Long torch as a Robust Cutting solution to our customers.

Reclaim, Do not Replace