plasma for cutting blanks

A

azdave35

Joined
Mar 25, 2008
Messages
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has anyone ever tried using a plasma cutter instead of a bandsaw for cutting the shape in a blank?
 
Should work just fine to get you close to shape. Leave a tiny bit of a margin in case you make a wrong move and take it to final shape with the grinder.

I grind to shape using an angle grinder with cutting and grinding wheels until I can get a portaband set up on a vertical stand. It's messy, loud, heavy work but it is slightly cheaper than using belts.

--nathan
 
Quite a few have tried and do use a plasma cutter, but you have to cut it a bit larger, about 1/8"-3/16" because of the heat affected zone.That will have to ground off. I find it much easier and quicker to use a bandsaw.Dave:)
 
I've had several blanks cut with a plasma cutter,worked well for me,but of course i dont have a band saw,however as Dave said leave it a little oversize because the edge will be hard,and has to be ground.Waterjet is the way to go.
Keith
 
If you use plasma, you will need to allow an extra 1/8" or more around the edge. You will have a hardened edge to grind off. I have a plasma and haven't used it in years. On the waterjet, I can nest parts within .003" of each other and there is no heat affected zones. Plus the edge is like a bead blasted finish. I think I would use the bandsaw before the plasma. :)
 
i have a portaband set up and i love it- for the price its ,in my opinion, the most bang for the buck. i feel the portaband stands up to a expensive stand up band saw for a 3rd of the price.-- only my opinion mark
 
I'll chime in and say that I still think the 4x6 bandsaws are the best deal running, but the portaband saws are nice too, especially if space is a concern. Folks would have a hard time convincing me to buy a big-box brand portable over a cheap import, however. I have trouble believing they are three to five times better when they are coming out of the same factories, just with a big name on the side.
 
i have tried it with a plasma cutter and I won't do it like that anymore the steel hardens on the edges and it is hard to grind that down
 
how about if you cut the blank with a plasma before you annealed the blank....wouldnt annealing it relive the hardness created by the plasma?
 
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