Setting a small overburn (cutting slightly past the start point) ensures the metal is fully severed, preventing the mechanical "tearing" that happens when a part is forced out of the skeleton. 3. Heat Management through Cut Sequencing
When a torch finishes a closed loop (like a circle), it often leaves a small "divot" or a localized hot spot where the start and end meet. This is a prime location for a crack to propagate. sheetcam hot crack
Ensure your Tool Library in SheetCam is calibrated to your plasma cutter’s manual. You want the fastest travel speed possible that still maintains a clean cut. The faster the torch moves, the narrower the HAZ and the less time the metal spends in that "danger zone" where cracking occurs. Material Considerations Setting a small overburn (cutting slightly past the
Cutting too slowly is a leading cause of hot cracking because it dumps excessive heat into the workpiece. This is a prime location for a crack to propagate
Hot cracking (also known as solidification cracking) occurs when the metal reaches its melting point and begins to cool. If the metal is under high tension while it is in a "mushy" state (partially solid, partially liquid), the grains of the metal pull apart, creating a fracture.
While often associated with the welding process, hot cracking in the context of SheetCam and CNC plasma cutting refers to the structural failure or "tearing" of the metal during or immediately after the thermal cycle of the cut.