Torch catches on slag of pierce

My torch upon pierce blows out a bit of steel and then it will catch on that slag when it comes to cut height and sometimes moves the material thus throwing the cut off any suggestions would be great

I will check that on being perpendicular and where would I set it higher at the pierce height? I did not realize I needed to clean it on cuts. thanks tommylight. I appreciate the input.

(I know nothing about plasma cutting so take my ideas with a grain of salt.)
That doesn't really help him solve his problem (the torch snagging on the slag and moving the piece.
And from the photo the problem isn't that the slag build-up snags on the torch at the start of the cut, but at the end.
From the sound of it the slag will always be a problem, so it would seem to me that the solution to the real problem is to use a lead in move so that the pierce point (and the slag build up) are off of the piece and out of the way of the torch when it comes around and finishes the cut.

It is at the beginning of the cut that it snags on the piece

Huh? Ok, from the photo I was guessing that it hit at the end causing the little hook turn, and preventing it from finishing it off. Goes to show how little I know.

Hi

On larger industrial level plasma cutters there is a section of the torch height profile for raising up over the pierce slag puddle before going to the actual cut height. This is usually done on the beginning of the lead in for the cut so the torch is at cut height by the time it gets to the work. This will take some integration with your post processor to make it work. The usual work around is to pierce all the start points on a thick sheet then stop the machine and clean off the dross. Then the machine is restarted to make the cuts. While some what cumbersome this can be done with hand edited files.

John

This is a problem I have experienced almost every time I try to cut 3/4" material. I have a HT PM85 which --according to the specs-- is capable of piercing 3/4". I follow the manual to a 'T' regarding Pierce Height, Pierce Delay, Etc. I'm using Sheetcam and set my Leadins to 3/4" as is also recommended in the pm85 manual. However, on almost every cut, the torch comes down to cut height and immediately gets hung up on the pile of slag which has formed in the cut path. On far too many occasions, this has resulted in the destruction of $$$ worth of consumables including blown out Shields AND Retaining Caps! I've learned the hard way that the HT Duramax torch does NOT like to touch the material at all while cutting!

What I was wondering is: has anyone that uses Sheetcam ever tried the "wiggle" or "ramp" leadin option and if so how did you set the various other parameters (pierce delay, plunge rate, etc.)?

john

Not specifically related to sheetcam (which I do have) but I had made a mote to try the ramp leadin as from what I had read, it would be much kinder on consumables. Let me know what you find.