Use F5 to Cut Stainless Steel
Powermax65/85/105
®
Application Note
809060 | Revision 1 | October 2017
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1/28/16
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Use F5 to Cut Stainless Steel
F5
Air
WARNING!
GAS CYLINDERS CAN EXPLODE IF DAMAGED
Gas cylinders contain gas under high pressure. If damaged, a cylinder can
explode.
For high pressure regulators, adhere to the manufacturer’s guidelines for
safe installation, operation, and maintenance.
Before plasma cutting with F5 gas, read the safety instructions in the Safety
and Compliance Manual (80669C). Failure to follow safety instructions can
result in personal injury or in damage to equipment.
WARNING!
EXPLOSION HAZARD – UNDERWATER CUTTING WITH FUEL GASES
Do not cut under water with fuel gases containing hydrogen.
Doing so can result in an explosive condition that can detonate during plasma cutting
operations.
F5 comprises 95% nitrogen (N2) and 5% hydrogen (H).
Plasma cutting comparison: F5 versus air
You can use F5 gas to cut stainless steel with Duramax™ torches on the Powermax65, Powermax85, and Powermax105.
When used with a Powermax system, F5 should be used only to cut stainless steel.
Plasma cutting with F5 produces smooth, shiny cuts with silver edges that are close to the base color of the metal. F5
avoids the dark heat affected zone that typically results with air plasma cutting.
These samples were cut from 1/2 inch (approximately 13 mm) stainless steel 304B at
105 A using a Powermax105.
Powermax65/85/105 Application Note 809060 3
Use F5 to Cut Stainless Steel
F5: Advantages F5: Disadvantages F5: Similarities to air
• Smooth, shiny cut edge
• Silver cut edge, similar to the base
color of the metal – no dark heat
affected zone
• No oxidation of the cut surface –
the cut steel maintains its
corrosion resistance
• Ability to use the same Duramax
consumables as for standard
• Stainless steel only
• Slower cut speeds
• F5 gas is more expensive than
compressed air
• Not recommended for thicknesses
less than 7mm or 1/4inch or for
®
use with FineCut
consumables
• Slightly degraded cut quality on
bevel cuts
• Approximately the same amount of
dross. With F5 and with air,
stainless steel dross is dark in color
and can be challenging to remove.
• Approximately the same gas
pressure requirements
cutting and gouging with air
(includes CopperPlus™ electrodes)
F5 cut charts
The following cut charts provide guidelines for cutting stainless steel with F5 at 45 A, 65 A, 85 A, and 105 A. For each F5
process, there are metric and English charts. Hypertherm collected the cut chart data under laboratory test conditions
using new consumables. Each cut chart contains the following information:
Amperage setting – The amperage setting at the top of the page applies to all the settings given on that page.
Material thickness – Thickness of the workpiece (metal plate being cut).
Torch-to-work distance – Distance between the shield and the workpiece during cutting. This may also be known
as cut height.
Initial pierce height – Distance between the shield and the workpiece when the torch is triggered, prior to
descending to the cut height.
Pierce delay time – Length of time the triggered torch remains stationary at the pierce height before the torch
starts the cutting motion.
Best quality settings (cut speed and voltage) – Settings that provide the starting point for finding the best cut
quality (best angle, least dross, best cut-surface finish). Adjust the speed for your application and table to obtain the
desired result.
Production settings (cut speed and voltage) – 70% to 80% of the maximum speed ratings. These speeds result in
the greatest number of cut parts, but not necessarily the best possible cut quality.
Kerf width – Width of material removed by the cutting process. The kerf widths were obtained with the “Best
Quality” settings and are for reference only. Differences between installations and material composition may cause
actual results to vary from those shown in the tables.
The arc voltage increases as the consumables wear, so the voltage setting may need to
be increased to maintain the correct torch-to-work distance. Some CNCs monitor the
arc voltage and adjust the torch lifter automatically.
Each cut chart lists hot and cold gas flow rates:
Hot flow rate – Plasma is on, the system is operating at running current, and the system is in a steady state at
the default system pressure (automatic mode).
Cold flow rate – Plasma is off and the system is in a steady state with gas flowing through the torch at the
default system pressure (postflow).
4 Powermax65/85/105 Application Note 809060
Use F5 to Cut Stainless Steel
45 A shielded cutting
Stainless steel / F5
Do not use this process with the Powermax45 and T45m machine torch or with the
Duramax Hyamp torches and consumables. It is designed for Duramax machine torches
and consumables.
Flow rate – slpm/scfh
Hot 217 / 460
Cold 241 / 510
Metric
Material
Thickness
Torch-to-Work
Distance
Initial Pierce
Height
Pierce
Delay Time
mm mm mm % seconds mm/min volts mm/min volts mm
7* 1.5 3.8 250 0.6 1095 141 945 142 0.8
Best Quality Settings Production Settings
Cut Speed Voltage Cut Speed Voltage
Kerf
Width
English
Material
Thickness
Torch-to-Work
Distance
Initial Pierce
Height
Pierce
Delay Time
Best Quality Settings Production Settings
Cut Speed Voltage Cut Speed Voltage
inches inches inches % seconds in/min volts in/min volts inches
1/4* 0.06 0.15 250 0.6 46 141 46 141 0.033
* F5 is not recommended for thicknesses less than 7 mm or 1/4 inch or for use with FineCut consumables.
Kerf
Width
Powermax65/85/105 Application Note 809060 5
Use F5 to Cut Stainless Steel
65 A shielded cutting
Stainless steel / F5
This process is designed for Duramax machine torches and consumables. It is not
intended for use with Duramax Hyamp torches or consumables.
Flow rate – slpm/scfh
Hot 168 / 355
Cold 205 / 435
Metric
Material
Thickness
Torch-to-Work
Distance
Initial Pierce
Height
Pierce
Delay Time
mm mm mm % seconds mm/min volts mm/min volts mm
7*
9
11
1.5
13 1.2 445 149 620 140 1.3
3.8 250
4.5 300
0.5 1165 141 1655 134 1.1
0.7
Best Quality Settings Production Settings
Cut Speed Voltage Cut Speed Voltage
925 144 1310 136
685 147 965 138
Kerf
Width
1.2
English
Material
Thickness
Torch-to-Work
Distance
Initial Pierce
Height
Pierce
Delay Time
Best Quality Settings Production Settings
Cut Speed Voltage Cut Speed Voltage
inches inches inches % seconds in/min volts in/min volts inches
1/4*
3/8 0.7 34 145 48 137 0.047
0.06
0.15 250
0.5 49 140 70 133 0.044
1/2 0.18 300 1.2 19 149 26 140 0.050
* F5 is not recommended for thicknesses less than 7 mm or 1/4 inch or for use with FineCut consumables.
Kerf
Width
6 Powermax65/85/105 Application Note 809060
Use F5 to Cut Stainless Steel
85 A shielded cutting
Stainless steel / F5
This process is designed for Duramax machine torches and consumables. It is not
intended for use with Duramax Hyamp torches or consumables.
Flow rate – slpm/scfh
Hot 191 / 405
Cold 224 / 475
Metric
Material
Thickness
Torch-to-Work
Distance
Initial Pierce
Height
Pierce
Delay Time
mm mm mm % seconds mm/min volts mm/min volts mm
7*
9 1445 136 1895 134 1.2
3.8 250
0.5
11
13
1.5
4.5 300
0.7
17 1.0 560 147 685 144
19
Edge Start
20 370 150 425 147
Best Quality Settings Production Settings
Cut Speed Voltage Cut Speed Voltage
1770 133 2350 131 1.1
1115 139 1440 137 1.3
820 142 1030 140
435 149 510 146
Kerf
Width
1.415 690 145 855 142
1.5
English
Material
Thickness
Torch-to-Work
Distance
Initial Pierce
Height
Pierce
Delay Time
Best Quality Settings Production Settings
Cut Speed Voltage Cut Speed Voltage
inches inches inches % seconds in/min volts in/min volts inches
1/4*
3/8 54 137 70 135 0.049
1/2
0.06
0.15 400
0.18 300
0.5
74 132 98 130 0.044
33 142 42 140 0.053
5/8 1.0 25 146 31 143 0.056
3/4 Edge Start 17 149 20 146 0.058
* F5 is not recommended for thicknesses less than 7 mm or 1/4 inch or for use with FineCut consumables.
Kerf
Width
Powermax65/85/105 Application Note 809060 7
Use F5 to Cut Stainless Steel
105 A shielded cutting
Stainless steel / F5
This process is designed for Duramax machine torches and consumables. It is not
intended for use with Duramax Hyamp torches or consumables.
Flow rate – slpm/scfh
Hot 222 / 470
Cold 269 / 570
Metric
Material
Thickness
Torch-to-Work
Distance
Initial Pierce
Height
Pierce
Delay Time
mm mm mm % seconds mm/min volts mm/min volts mm
8*
10 1465 156 2325 154 1.4
12 0.6 945 160 1505 156 1.6
16 0.75 720 163 955 160 1.7
3.2
6.4 200
0.5
20 8 250 1.2 640 166 670 164 1.9
25
26 350 172 420 2.5
Edge Start
Best Quality Settings Production Settings
Cut Speed Voltage Cut Speed Voltage
1985 153 3145 151 1.3
400 171 465
167
Kerf
Width
2.4
English
Material
Thickness
Torch-to-Work
Distance
Initial Pierce
Height
Pierce
Delay Time
Best Quality Settings Production Settings
Cut Speed Voltage Cut Speed Voltage
inches inches inches % seconds in/min volts in/min volts inches
1/4*
3/8 63 156 99 153 0.055
1/2
5/8 29 163 38 160 0.068
0.125
0.25 200
0.5
0.8
95 150 150 149 0.046
30 161 48 157 0.063
3/4 0.31 250 1.2 27 165 28 163 0.072
7/8
1 15 171 18 167 0.095
* F5 is not recommended for thicknesses less than 7 mm or 1/4 inch or for use with FineCut consumables.
Edge Start
21 168 23 165 0.084
Kerf
Width
8 Powermax65/85/105 Application Note 809060
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