Is there a taper when cutting steel plates with a plasma cutting machine?

Is the cutting steel plate not straight or has a taper? 

First, the section of the metal sheet of the plasma cutting machine cannot be completely vertical. Plasma is a kind of high temperature cutting, which is blown out by compressed air. During the cutting process, the temperature above the cutting nozzle is greater than the temperature below. The cutting process is the process of melting (evaporating) the steel material from top to bottom. So there must be a slope or taper, especially when cutting thicker metal sheets. Generally, ordinary plasma cutting torch has a taper within 15°. The fine plasma cutting torch has a taper within 8°. When plasma cutting is performed on a thicker sheet, the taper of the cut end face is larger than that of a thin sheet.

If the cutting edge has very large taper, you can check from the following aspects:

1. The cutting nozzle is damaged: the cutting nozzle is a consumable part, and usually needs to be replaced after several hours of continuous operation. 

2. Cutting torch: if the cutting torch damaged, it will causing taper, not 90° perpendicular to the material table

3. Gantry frame: check the gantry frame maybe deformed and tilted due to long-term heavy pressure.

4. Air pressure: check the air pressure is too high or too low, or if there is a lot of moisture in the air.

5. Speed: adjust the cutting speed properly

6. Plasma power supply: if plasma power supply has a long using time, may cause serious aging 

7. Cutting distance: The distance between the cutting nozzle and the sheet is too large, and it can be adjusted to a distance of 2-3mm.

In the future use, if the cutting line of the steel plate is not straight, you can check from the following aspects:

1. Track: The two tracks are not parallel, or the track has obstacles or damaged. 

2. Motor: Check the bilateral driver and motor, if the motor on one side has problem, it will cause the moving out of synchronous.

3. Lifting body: the lifting body fixture loose.