Note: Keep moving while cutting. Cut at a steady
speed without pausing. Use a 5°-15° leading angle in
the direction of the cut.
6.3.2. Operating Techniques
1. Piercing - Materials (up to 3.2mm/1/8in. thick)
work. When piercing thicker materials (up
to4.8mm stainless or carbon steel) at an angle, po-
sition the torch 0.5mm (.02”) above the work piece.
It is advisable when piercing thicker materials to
drill a small pilot/starting hole in the work piece
which makes it a lot easier and gives increased tip
life. Start the cutting arc, then immediately raise
the torch to 1.6mm (1/16”) stand off and move
the torch along the cut path. This will reduce the
chance of spatter from entering the torch and
prevent the possibility of welding the tip to the
plate. The torch should be angled at about 30°
when starting to pierce, and then straightened
after accomplishing the pierce.
2. Grate Cutting - For rapid restarts, such as grate
or heavy mesh cutting, do not release the torch
switch. This avoids the 2 second pref flow portion
of the cutting cycle.
3. Edge Starting - For edge starts, hold the torch
perpendicular to the work piece with the front of
the tip near (not touching) the edge of the work
piece at the point where the cut is to start. When
starting at the edge of the plate, do not pause at
the edge and force the arc to ‘reach’ for the edge
of the metal.
Cutting Speed Guide
Material
Thickness
(mm)
Cutting
Speed
(mm/s)
Carbon Steel
(AISI 1020)
1.6
150
3.2
50
6.4
20
Stainless Steel
(AISI 304)
1.6
140
3.2
40
6.4
15
Aluminium
(6061)
1.6
190
3.2
85
6.4
30
Setting the five position voltage divider on the CUT
The factory presets the voltage divider to 20:1. To
change the voltage divider to a different setting:
1. Turn OFF the power supply
and disconnect the power
cord.
2. Remove the power supply
cover.
3. Locate the voltage divider
DIP switches on the left
side of the power supply.
Note: the table below for the shift and scale selec-
tion:
Dial
number
Scale selection
20:1
30:1
40:1
50:1
1
ON
1
1
1
2
2
ON
2
2
3
3
3
ON
3
4
4
4
4
ON
6.3. PLASMA CUTTING GUIDE
6.3.1. Cutting Guide
Effect of Cutting Speed
TOO FAST
TOO SLOW
CORRECT
Piercing Technique
1. To start a pierce, tilt the torch
to prevent molten material from
coming back against and damaging
the torch.
2. When the arc
breaks through the work,
bring the torch to an upright
position and proceed to cut.
1.995.232 EN - Rev. 1.1
NOVACUT 106 LCD
26
