i am going to be working on a couple of chef knifes and i am trying to remember the rule. If i remember correctly, the area of metal that gets it temper messed up is the thickness of the material. Could someone confirm or correct me if i am right or wrong. thank you.
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plasma cutter question?
- Thread starter mk77
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2000
- Messages
- 509
mk77,
I'm not exactly sure what your question is... could you be a little more specific?
Are you cutting an already heat treated piece of steel in order to make the knives? What thickness is the steel? What kind of steel is it?
It's easier to heat a thin piece of metal than a thick one, therefore a thin piece of steel is more susceptible to temper loss than is a thick one. The catch is that any steel's temper will be affected by the heat generated by a plasma cutter. How far into the steel laterally it is affected is unknown to me. If I understand what you are wanting to do, here is what I'd do if you're set on cutting the material with a plasma cutter.... I'd sand a section of the steel so that it is nice and bright and then see how far the colors run when it is cut with the plasma cutter. Have a small piece of the same steel handy that is sanded bright, the same as the test piece that is being tested, so that you can compare the two pieces to determine, for sure, how far the colors ran. Whatever this distance is, is how far the temper was affected by the plasma cutter. Hope that makes sense.
Rick
I'm not exactly sure what your question is... could you be a little more specific?
Are you cutting an already heat treated piece of steel in order to make the knives? What thickness is the steel? What kind of steel is it?
It's easier to heat a thin piece of metal than a thick one, therefore a thin piece of steel is more susceptible to temper loss than is a thick one. The catch is that any steel's temper will be affected by the heat generated by a plasma cutter. How far into the steel laterally it is affected is unknown to me. If I understand what you are wanting to do, here is what I'd do if you're set on cutting the material with a plasma cutter.... I'd sand a section of the steel so that it is nice and bright and then see how far the colors run when it is cut with the plasma cutter. Have a small piece of the same steel handy that is sanded bright, the same as the test piece that is being tested, so that you can compare the two pieces to determine, for sure, how far the colors ran. Whatever this distance is, is how far the temper was affected by the plasma cutter. Hope that makes sense.
Rick
Alot of difference is going to made depending on what type of plasma table is used. You have standard plasma and high def plasma. A high def cuts 4x as fast as a standard and will transfer way less heat. There are also submerged plasma tables that would help keep the heat transfer down. However no matter what you use there is no way to escape getting considerable heat in at least 1/8 to 1/16 of the edge at best. Your best option is going to be ~50K psi of water with alittle garnet mixed in and forced through a .015 nozzle.
Rick Baum, thank you for saying my question much clearer. I was asking about the lateral distance in which steel would be affected by a plasma cutter. You suggestion also makes alot of sense, as far as the steel goes, I will be using an old L-6 saw blade that is 5/16th thick.
aarolar, I will be using a free hand plasma cutter, I have a little experience with the machine. With the adjustment I plan on making a few test cuts, using only as much heat as required for a clean cut.
Thank you for your suggestions.
aarolar, I will be using a free hand plasma cutter, I have a little experience with the machine. With the adjustment I plan on making a few test cuts, using only as much heat as required for a clean cut.
Thank you for your suggestions.