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How Thick Can a Plasma Cutter Cut?- A Useful Guide (Must Read)

Plasma cutting is one of the most popular cutting methods for metal. Plasma cutter can cut through most metals and it is also easy to operate.

Plasma cutters use a high-velocity stream of ionized gas to cut through metal and other conductive materials. The gas is heated to such a high temperature that it ionizes or breaks down into ions. This process creates a plasma arc that is extremely hot – around 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit!- and very effective at cutting through metal.

But you might be wondering just how thick can a plasma cutter cut.

Many fabricators have concerns regarding their machine’s abilities to cut thicker materials like steel or concrete.

If you’re among them, this guide is written for you.

Read on!

How Thick Can a Plasma Cutter Cut

Plasma cutter can cut both thin and thick materials. However, the thickness of the metal that a plasma cutter can cut through depends on several factors.

First, the power of the machine
Second, the type of metals you are cutting and
Third, the type of tip that is being used.

Some plasma cutters only can cut through thin metals, while others can cut through thick metals.

Each plasma cutter model has an optimal range of cutting thickness. A handheld plasma cutter can typically cut a steel plate thickened up to 38mm (1.5 inches).

If you need to do some heavy-duty cutting, you will want to look at machines with more power. An industrial CNC plasma cutter can cut up to 150mm (6 inches) thick steel.

If you’re planning to cut very thick metals, it is recommended that you go for an industrial-grade plasma cutter than a hobbyist model.

Industrial grade plasma cutters are more powerful and can cut through thicker metals like titanium and stainless steel. They also have better durability than hobbyist models and require less maintenance over time.

One thing to remember when using a plasma cutter is that the quality of the cuts will vary depending on the thickness of the material being cut. Thin materials like sheet metal will produce clean, precise cuts, while thicker materials may result in rougher edges.

However, a well-tuned plasma cutter can still produce reasonably clean cuts even with thicker materials.

Plasma Cutter Amps Vs. Thickness

If you’re in the market for a plasma cutter, you’ve probably seen a lot of information about amps and thickness.

But what do those numbers really mean? And how do you know which machine is right for your project?

The amperage of a plasma cutter is a measure of its cutting power. In general, the higher the amperage, the thicker the material a plasma cutter can cut. Most home and hobby models are in the 15 to the 40-amp range, while commercial cutters can be up to 200 amps.

If your project involves cutting mostly ¼-inch thick materials, a low amperage plasma cutter will be right for you. However, if you need regularly cut metals that are around ½-inch thick, you should go for a higher amperage plasma cutter.

Plasma Cutter Amps-Thickness Chart

Here is the Amps-Thickness Chart for Everlast plasma cutter at the torch-to-work distance 1.5 mm

AmpsPsiMaterials thickness (mm)
20400.5
30501.6
40553.4
45605
50658
557010
607512


Related FAQs about How Thick of Metal Can a Plasma Cutter Cut

How thick can a 20-amp plasma cutter cut?

With a 20-amp unit such as Eastwood Versa Cut 20 Amp 110V Plasma Cutter, you’ll be able to cut through metal up to 1/8-inch thick quickly.

How thick can a 30-amp plasma cutter cut?

A 30- amp unit such as Amico 30 Amp Plasma Cutter DC Inverter 110/230V Dual Voltage Cutting Machine can cut a thickness of 3/8 inches, and the max severance thickness is 1/2 inches.

How thick can a 40-amp plasma cutter cut?

Reboot RBC-4000 is a 40-amp IGBT Plasma Cutter that offers 8mm Cutting Thickness Severance at 65psi.

How thick can a 45-amp plasma cutter cut?

Amico CUT-45M, 45 Amp Air Plasma Cutter can cut a thickness of 2/5 in. with the max severance thickness at 3/4 in.

How thick can a 50-amp plasma cutter cut?

S7 CUT50 50 Amp 110V/220V dual voltage AC DC IGBT plasma cutting machine is rated for cutting thickness 1-20mm, and optimal cutting Thickness 10mm.

How thick can a 60-amp plasma cutter cut?

PRIMEWELD CUT60 60Amp non-touch pilot arc 110V/220V dual voltage plasma cutter is rated for cutting through steel up to 7/8-inch thick.

How thick can an 80-amp plasma cutter cut?

Lotos LTP8000 80 A plasma cutter is rated for an Ideal cut of 1 Inch and a maximum of 1-1/2-inch.

How thick can a 100-amp plasma cutter cut?

Everlast Welders 2021 PowerPlasma 102i is a 100 Amp CNC compatible plasma cutter that is ideal for regularly cutting a maximum of 1-5/8″.

Conclusion

I hope this article answers all your questions about how thick can a plasma cutter cut!

I have provided a lot of information regarding the capability of cutting different thicknesses.

Before you purchase a plasma cutter, it doesn’t matter what fancy features it has. But it is important to know how thick of metal it can perfectly cut without issues.