A hot crack (or solidification crack) occurs at high temperatures during the solidification phase of a weld or thermal cut. When a plasma arc pierces or finishes a cut, the localized metal reaches its melting point. As the torch moves away or shuts down, this molten zone cools rapidly.

Ensure your lead-in is long enough to keep the initial pierce puddle away from the final part edge. For thick materials, a lead-in of 6mm to 10mm (0.25" to 0.4") is recommended.

Change the to distribute the heat across the sheet.

: You can create custom "Path Rules" in SheetCam to automatically slow down the feed rate or turn off height control at specific features (like corners or small holes) where heat buildup is most likely .

If you’re looking for a of SheetCAM (the actual CNC nesting and CAM software), I’d be happy to help. Just let me know what aspects you want covered, such as:

Select a tool that utilizes a thinner kerf to reduce the total amount of energy applied to the sheet. 2. Configure Pierce and Cut Height

To solve the problem, you must respect the three states of metal: Expansion, Fusion, Contraction.

You can mitigate the risk of hot cracks by optimizing your G-code within SheetCam using the following features: 1. Optimize Lead-ins and Lead-outs

Several factors can contribute to the occurrence of hot cracks when using SheetCam:

Now, open your SheetCam job, adjust those settings, and cut with confidence. No cracks, just clean parts.

Do not extinguish the torch exactly where the lead-in meets the cut path.