quick plasma question operating amperage

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hooking up my hypertherm powermax 45. this is my first plasma so this might be a dumb question but need to ask.all the cutting charts speeds are for 45amps max power.I will be hooking this up to a CNC table. Do I run the plasma wide open all the time and just adjust the speed for different thicknesses etc? Does this hurt the machine in any way or it it built for this....what does everyone do?
Reply:Forum member Jim Colt would probably have the best answer to this.  He has a sticky thread in the "Other Manufacturers" section.  Maybe post your questions there in the Hypertherm sticky.A few of my toys !LinuxMintManjaroMiller Roughneck 2E Lincoln WeldPak 100HTP MTS 160 Chicago Electric 80amp Inverter   Victor O/A
Reply:Chadwickz71,Actually the chart in the Hypertherm Powermax45 has 30 Amp settings for thinner materials, and 45 Amp settings for thicker materials. These settings are good strting points......follow the speeds listed under Optimum....not Maximum for machine cutting....and follow the cut heights and pierce heights exactly for best results.I find on all materials 1/8" and thicker....use 45 Amps and follow the cut charts. On thinner material...especially with intricate shapes and small holes....reducing the amperage will allow you to cut slower with excellent quality.....most cnc machines can cut intricate shapes better at slower speeds.Nothing will hurt the 45....it is a great machine. I have pushed mine way beyond its factory ratings....and have had great success with it. I have not yet been able to exceed its duty cycle rating...even when piercing and cutting 5/8" (Hypertherm says its a 3/8" piercing machine!).Good luck with it...Jim
Reply:thanks a bunch.Have you pierced anything thicker than 3/8 on your plasmacam yet?
Reply:I do 1/2" all the time....and have done a few jobs on 5/8" with the Powermax45.Jim