Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a material cutting system are provided. The system has a table for receiving a work piece. A cutting head cuts the work piece on the table and includes a positioning apparatus. The positioning apparatus moves the cutting head relative to the work piece at an angle relative to a planar surface of the work piece. The material cutting system also includes a computerized numeric controller (CNC) controlling the positioning apparatus. The CNC references a table of values within application software to find a material value and a work piece thickness value within the table to determine the angle from the perpendicular to produce a kerf edge that is formed at a particular angle to the work piece planar surface.

Abstract: A method of operating a plasma arc torch system includes placing a work piece to be cut on a table of the plasma arc torch system, wherein at least a portion of the work piece has a planer surface facing away from the table. A plasma arc torch is positioned adjacent the planer surface of the work piece using a positioning apparatus, wherein the positioning apparatus has at least five degrees of freedom about which it can move the plasma arc torch relative the work piece for cutting the work piece on the table. The method further includes angling the torch relative the planer surface of the work piece such that the torch is held at an angle of between about 1 and about 4 degrees from perpendicular with the planer surface to back burn a produced kerf such that a kerf edge is perpendicular relative the planer surface of the work piece. Additionally, the planer surface of the work piece is calculated by contacting the work piece with the torch at least three times.

Abstract: A method of operating a plasma arc torch system includes placing a work piece to be cut on a table of the plasma arc torch system, wherein at least a portion of the work piece has a planer surface facing away from the table. A plasma arc torch is positioned adjacent the planer surface of the work piece using a positioning apparatus, wherein the positioning apparatus has at least five degrees of freedom about which it can move the plasma arc torch relative the work piece for cutting the work piece on the table. The method further includes angling the torch relative the planer surface of the work piece such that the torch is held at an angle of between about 1 and about 4 degrees from perpendicular with the planer surface to back burn a produced kerf such that a kerf edge is perpendicular relative the planer surface of the work piece. Additionally, the planer surface of the work piece is calculated by contacting the work piece with the torch at least three times.

Abstract: A method of operating a plasma arc torch system includes placing a work piece to be cut on a table of the plasma arc torch system, wherein at least a portion of the work piece has a planer surface facing away from the table. A plasma arc torch is positioned adjacent the planer surface of the work piece using a positioning apparatus, wherein the positioning apparatus has at least five degrees of freedom about which it can move the plasma arc torch relative the work piece for cutting the work piece on the table. The method further includes angling the torch relative the planer surface of the work piece such that the torch is held at an angle of between about 1 and about 4 degrees from perpendicular with the planer surface to back burn a produced kerf such that a kerf edge is perpendicular relative the planer surface of the work piece. Additionally, the planer surface of the work piece is calculated by contacting the work piece with the torch at least three times.

Abstract: A method of operating a plasma arc torch system includes placing a work piece to be cut on a table of the plasma arc torch system, wherein at least a portion of the work piece has a planer surface facing away from the table. A plasma arc torch is positioned adjacent the planer surface of the work piece using a positioning apparatus, wherein the positioning apparatus has at least five degrees of freedom about which it can move the plasma arc torch relative the work piece for cutting the work piece on the table. The method further includes angling the torch relative the planer surface of the work piece such that the torch is held at an angle of between about 1 and about 4 degrees from perpendicular with the planer surface to back burn a produced kerf such that a kerf edge is perpendicular relative the planer surface of the work piece. Additionally, the planer surface of the work piece is calculated by contacting the work piece with the torch at least three times.

Abstract: A method of operating a plasma arc torch system includes placing a work piece to be cut on a table of the plasma arc torch system, wherein at least a portion of the work piece has a planer surface facing away from the table. A plasma arc torch is positioned adjacent the planer surface of the work piece using a positioning apparatus, wherein the positioning apparatus has at least five degrees of freedom about which it can move the plasma arc torch relative the work piece for cutting the work piece on the table. The method further includes angling the torch relative the planer surface of the work piece such that the torch is held at an angle of between about 1 and about 4 degrees from perpendicular with the planer surface to back burn a produced kerf such that a kerf edge is perpendicular relative the planer surface of the work piece. Additionally, the planer surface of the work piece is calculated by contacting the work piece with the torch at least three times.