CNC Plasma Pierce Height & Cut Speed Calculator

Starting-point pierce height, pierce delay, cut height, and IPM for gantry / CNC tables

Embed this calculator Free · no API key · keep the attribution link

Copy the snippet below to embed this calculator on your site. The attribution link must stay intact and dofollow (no rel="nofollow"). Browse all embeddable calculators

Theme Width

<div class="ttq-embed" style="max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;">
  <iframe src="https://testtalkhq.com/embed/cnc-plasma-pierce-height-cut-speed-calculator/?theme=light&utm_source=embed" width="100%" height="980" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" title="CNC Plasma Pierce Height & Cut Speed Calculator — TestTalkHQ" style="border:0;max-width:100%;width:100%;"></iframe>
  <p style="font:400 13px/1.4 system-ui,sans-serif;text-align:center;margin:6px 0 0;">Powered by the <a href="https://testtalkhq.com/cnc-plasma-pierce-height-cut-speed-calculator/?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=calculator_embed&utm_content=cnc-plasma-pierce-height-cut-speed-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free CNC Plasma Pierce Height & Cut Speed</a> from <a href="https://testtalkhq.com/?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=calculator_embed&utm_content=cnc-plasma-pierce-height-cut-speed-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TestTalkHQ</a></p>
</div>

<div class="ttq-embed" style="max-width:100%;margin:0 auto;">
  <iframe src="https://testtalkhq.com/embed/cnc-plasma-pierce-height-cut-speed-calculator/?theme=light&utm_source=embed" width="100%" height="980" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" scrolling="no" title="CNC Plasma Pierce Height & Cut Speed Calculator — TestTalkHQ" style="border:0;max-width:100%;width:100%;"></iframe>
  <p style="font:400 13px/1.4 system-ui,sans-serif;text-align:center;margin:6px 0 0;">Powered by the <a href="https://testtalkhq.com/cnc-plasma-pierce-height-cut-speed-calculator/?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=calculator_embed&utm_content=cnc-plasma-pierce-height-cut-speed-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Free CNC Plasma Pierce Height & Cut Speed</a> from <a href="https://testtalkhq.com/?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=calculator_embed&utm_content=cnc-plasma-pierce-height-cut-speed-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TestTalkHQ</a></p>
</div>
<script>(function(){function r(e){if(!e||!e.data||e.data.type!=="ttq-embed-height")return;var h=+e.data.height;if(!h)return;document.querySelectorAll("iframe[src*='testtalkhq.com/embed/']").forEach(function(f){if(!e.source||f.contentWindow===e.source)f.style.height=h+"px"})}window.addEventListener("message",r)})();</script>

Welding

Welding Reference Card

One page. MIG, TIG, stick and flux core settings by thickness.

$3.99

Buy

Complete Welding Settings Guide

19 pages. Four processes, stainless and aluminum, symbols and inspection.

$12.99

Buy

Welding Job Estimator

Price the job, then hand over a quote with no internal numbers.

Excel or Google Sheets. Best on a computer.

$29.00

Buy

BEST VALUE

Welding Complete Bundle

Card, 19-page guide and the estimator workbook. All six files.

Excel or Google Sheets. Best on a computer.

$34.99

$45.98 if bought separately — save $10.99

Buy

See all Welding products

Checkout opens here — you stay on this page.

CNC Plasma Table Gear

From the TestTalkHQ plasma catalog — CNC-ready amperage, shop air that holds PSI under a long gantry cut, and spare consumables. Handheld torch amps still live on the handheld plasma calculator.

Lotos LTP8000 80A Plasma

80A class with a CNC-ready torch lead. Matches the 85A column in this calculator for 1/4–1/2" mild steel on a small gantry.

View on Amazon →

55A Pilot Arc Plasma Cutter

Hobby-table range. Use the 45A or 65A starting points here, then drop pierce delay if the stack is 16 ga, not 1/4".

View on Amazon →

PrimeWeld 3-in-1 welder and plasma cutter

PrimeWeld 3-in-1 Welder / Plasma

50A plasma on a combo box. Fine for a small CNC table on sheet; do not treat it as a 105A production chart.

View on Amazon →

Quincy QT-54 Air Compressor

Gantry cuts run longer than a handheld pass. If PSI sags, pierce delay and cut height will not save the edge. Sizing: plasma compressor guide.

View on Amazon →

Plasma Cutter Consumables Kit

Blown nozzles from a low pierce or a late motion command look like “wrong IPM.” Change tip and electrode as a pair before you rewrite the post processor.

View on Amazon →

Keep a Scrap Coupon Pad

Every new material lot gets a 2" test pierce and a 6" straight cut before the nest. This calculator is the starting point; the coupon is the lock-in.

Read the Dial-In Guide →

As an Amazon Associate, TestTalkHQ earns from qualifying purchases.

How to Use This CNC Plasma Calculator

Enter the material on the table, the actual thickness, and the amps the process is running. Read pierce height and delay into the pierce cycle, cut height into the THC set point, and the IPM band into the contour feed. Lock pierce on a stationary coupon before you chase speed.

Pierce high → delay until through → drop to cut height → feed in the IPM band

Walkthrough: CNC plasma dial-in guide. Defects: CNC cut-quality troubleshooting. Why handheld numbers disagree: CNC vs handheld plasma settings.

This tool does not set handheld amps (plasma cutting calculator), size shop air (compressor guide), or quote nest time (cut-cost estimator).

CNC Plasma Pierce Height & Cut Speed Calculator