Page 80 - MetalForming October 2017

Plasma-Cutting Upgrade
tributor Airgas Midsouth, opted for a Hornet-XD CNC plasma-cutting machine from Hornet Cutting Systems, Valley Center, KS, outfitted with the new XPR300 plasma system from Hypertherm, Inc., Hanover, NH. The new equipment, featuring a 10 by 24- ft. table, went live at Midwestern this past July, with the Hornet Cutting Sys- tems team providing installation and initial training support.
The XD’s precision-machined, dual- linear-way beam gantry is engineered to handle rapid acceleration while pro- viding the stiffness necessary to deliver smooth motion and precise cuts, according to Brice Turner, president of Hornet Cutting Systems.
The heart of the machine, the XPR300, represents the latest plasma- cutting technology from Hypertherm. As part of the company’s new X-Defi-
nition class, the 300-amp. unit features refined high-definition plasma process- es to deliver high cut quality on mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum, according to Hypertherm officials. These include patent-pending Vented Water Injection, plasma dampening and vent-to-shield technologies. The end result reportedly includes squarer cut edges and reduced angularity com- pared to previous models.
Piercing capability also is improved on the XPR300 thanks to increased power and an exclusive argon-assist process, which enables 30-percent- thicker piercing on mild steel and a 20-percent increase on stainless steel compared to the equipment it has replaced. Other listed improvements include technology that protects con- sumables from the negative impact of ramp-down errors, allowing them to last as much as three times longer than on older-generation systems.
“The new machine has delivered nearly laser-quality cuts,” says Beffer, who, along with Chris Guthrie, assistant manufacturing manager at Midwest- ern, detailed its performance for Met- alForming. “And, the previous machine could pierce steel to 1.25 in. thick, while the new one can pierce to 2 in. The bulk of what we cut is thicker, so we can cut these materials on the plasma cutter instead of using an oxyfuel machine, which is how we had processed it before. We already see a noticeable improvement in cut quality on thicker steel, which has brought a noticeable improvement in weld fitup.”
Other benefits of the new plasma cutter include an easier way to balance speed versus cut quality, according to Beffer. Typically, cut quality suffers as cutting speed increases. The new machine provides more automated amperage settings than the old equip- ment, allowing operators to quickly and more finely tune speed and cut quality. Hypertherm’s ProNest nesting software is a key contributor in delivering this ease of use. Beffer also notes that the machine provides easier and quicker cutting-head and consumables change- out, leading to a decrease in downtime.
Shadow 9
The New Benchmark for Safety
Since 1973, Wintriss Shadow light curtains have been protecting machine operators. The new Shadow 9 uses the latest technology to continue the tradition.
• Easy to Use Programable Blanking
• Alignment Indicators to Simplify Installation
• Improved Versatility
• Up to Three Sets of Heads can be Cascaded Together •
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• Category 4 for High Risk Hazards
Visit us at Fabtech Booth #A5437 and see it for yourself.
For additional information about Shadow 9, call us at 800-586-8324 (US and Canada), 978-268-2700, or visit us at www.wintriss.com
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78 MetalForming/October 2017
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