STEPCRAFT CUT 50 Plasma Cutter System
Cut Settings Chart
The CUT 50 is a very capable and powerful plasma-cutting system. When coupled with your M-Series CNC machine, you have a system that can cut up to 5/8" thick mild steel. While this might not be the norm, it is possible with the right settings. The following charts will give you some starting settings to use when programming your plasma jobs.
In the charts, we will provide info on air pressure, amperage, pierce height, cut height, and feed rate (cutting speed).
Air Pressure: This is adjusted by the black knob on top of the air pressure regulator and filter on the back of the Plasma cutter unit. Simply turn the knob and look at the dial on the regulator until you get the correct pressure setting
Amperage: This is adjusted by turning the dial on the front of the plasma cutter unit until the amperage number is reading correctly on the front of the unit.
Pierce Height, Cut Height, and Feed Rate: These are all settings you will make in Sheetcam in the Operations section.
NOTES:
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These settings are rough starting positions. Adjust your machine's settings to get the best cutting results. You can consult our document HERE on how to obtain the best results.
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The air pressure gauge that comes on the CUT 50 Plasma Cutter is in MPa (MegaPascals). This is a basic unit of pressure measurement in the International System of Weights and Measures. We give you both MPa and PSI in the charts below.
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This chart might be updated from time to time as we test-cut other materials, so please bookmark this page and check back when you are setting up your plasma-cutting jobs.
MILD STEEL
| AMPS |
AIR PRESSURE MPa/PSI |
MATERIAL THICKNESS | PIERCE HEIGHT/CUT HEIGHT |
PEIRCE DELAY (Sec) |
FEED RATE (IPM) |
| 20 | .35/55 | 24GA | 0.125"/0.06" | .1 | 205 |
| 25 | .35/55 | 20GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.1 | 190 |
| 30 | .35/55 | 16GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.2 | 150 |
| 40 | .41/60 | 14GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.2 | 105 |
| 45 | .41/60 |
12GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.5 | 90 |
| 45 | .41/60 |
3/16" | 0.125"/0.06" |
.8 | 60 |
| 45 | .41/60 |
1/4" | 0.19"/0.06" |
.9 | 45 |
| 50 | .45/65 |
3/8" | 0.19"/0.06" |
1 | 35 |
| 50 | .45/65 |
1/2" | 0.24"/0.06" |
1.2 | 20 |
STAINLESS STEEL
| AMPS | AIR PRESSURE | MATERIAL THICKNESS | PIERCE HEIGHT/CUT HEIGHT | PEIRCE DELAY | FEED RATE (IPM) |
| 20 | .35/55 |
24GA | 0.125"/0.06" | .1 | 188 |
| 25 | .35/55 |
20GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.1 | 125 |
| 30 | .35/55 |
16GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.2 | 88 |
| 40 | .41/60 |
14GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.2 | 76 |
| 45 | .41/60 |
12GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.5 | 62 |
| 45 | .41/60 |
3/16" | 0.125"/0.06" |
.8 | 50 |
| 45 | .41/60 |
1/4" | 0.19"/0.08" |
.9 | 37 |
| 50 | .45/65 | 3/8" | 0.19"/0.08" |
1 | 31 |
| 50 | .45/65 |
1/2" | 0.19"/0.08" |
1.2 | 18 |
ALUMINUM
| AMPS | AIR PRESSURE | MATERIAL THICKNESS | PIERCE HEIGHT/CUT HEIGHT | PEIRCE DELAY | FEED RATE (IPM) |
| 20 | .35/55 |
24GA | 0.125"/0.06" | .1 | 230 |
| 25 | .35/55 |
20GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.1 | 174 |
| 30 | .35/55 |
16GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.2 | 126 |
| 40 | .41/60 |
14GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.2 | 102 |
| 45 | .41/60 |
12GA | 0.125"/0.06" |
.5 | 88 |
| 45 | .41/60 |
3/16" | 0.125"/0.06" |
.8 | 72 |
| 45 | .41/60 |
1/4" | 0.19"/0.08" |
.9 | 51 |
| 50 | .45/65 |
3/8" | 0.19"/0.08" |
1 | 36 |
| 50 | .45/65 |
1/2" | 0.19"/0.08" |
1.2 | 22 |