Does one have any experience using a plasma cutter to cut 3/8 or ½ aluminum? Any suggestions or recommendations?
If I remember right(it's been a few years), you have to maky a few p***es close to each other. the stuff would melt back together after it was cut(more air pressure might help here). It also threw sparks like mad in every direction, the AL sparks were a bright white and hurt more than steel sparks. Course I was cuttin' up engine blocks. it might be different for flat plate. -Jeff
It will cut like ****er. Just use a little more air pressure than you would with steel. I also do not usually drag cut aluminum because it seems to want to blow out the electrodes easier.
Plasma cutters work fine on alum. Strangely enough it takes more power to cut alum than steel. Most common home shop plasmas wont have the power to cut the 1/2".Plasmas leave a real nasty surface on the cut. If you're going to weld the edges you'll have to gind back to a shiny surface. When grinding alum make sure you wear a good respirator as that alum dust is nasty! Ted
[ QUOTE ] Strangely enough it takes more power to cut alum than steel. [/ QUOTE ] Aluminum conducts the heat away from the cut area at a significantly quicker rate...
The Jalopy Journal
