Air quality question

[mcv300]

I have new PM45 with 15m torchlead

Sometimes it cannot turn the arc on, sometimes the arc turn on little late, so I have to put pierce delay 0.8 sec , even on 0.8mm material

I live in a country with 90% air humidity, and I use no air drier.

Could air quality be the problem ? or is it the torch lead length ?

Thank you

[dlktdr]

I doubt it's a humidity problem, although clean, dry air is very important, a dryer is always a good idea.

The T45 torch starts its pilot arc by shorting the electrode to the nozzle and running a current through it. The air then turns on and causes the electrode to pull away from the nozzle, creating an arc between the two. With 15m leads it's takes a little while to build enough pressure in the line to "blow back" the electrode starting your arc.

There is an arc transfer signal (XFER) from the powermax you can connect to your CNC controller, if possible. It tells the controller when the pilot arc has hit the work piece and has started cutting, so your pierce time will be accurate.

[mcv300]

I just bought a refrigerant type dryer, hopefully it will improve the ignition.
As for the arc ok signal, it is connected directly to PM45 cpc plug, so it is not a problem, so my next suspect will be the torch lead length.

By the way, is it possible to shorten the torch lead ?

[jimcolt]

It sounds like your air pressure setting may be low. To set the air pressure regulator at the plasma...turn the amperage knob fully counter clockwise (this makes the air flow...and the pressure setting must be done under flowing conditions or the torch may misfire), then adjust the regulator until the LED lights on the front panel indicate good pressure. With the long leads you are using....sett the bressure so the LED above the center LED is illuminated....as there is a pressure drop through the longer leads that can cause delayed firing.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[mcv300]

Hi Jim,

I installed the refrigerated air dryer, complete with dust & oil filter.


It does not solve the second pierce problem, first pierce is always OK, but the next is always late.
The torch go to pierce height, turn the arc on(pierce) , send arc ok signal, but the power of the arc is not full, and the motors move , so that the pierce and the first 10-15mm did not cut through the metal
I have set the power supply air pressure to 2 led as your suggestion.

Is there any way to shorten the torch lead ?

[dlktdr]

Is there any way to shorten the torch lead ?

It's possible, but I wouldn't recommend it. The easiest way to shorten it is to strip the outer sheath off starting from the machine end and cutting towards the torch. Cut it open as much as you want to shorten it. Cut out a section of the inner gas line in the opening you made, being sure not to cut any wires. Then use a hose splice and crimps to re-connect the two ends. There will be a extra wiring the white, red, blue and purple wires which used to be wrapped around the inner gas line, just coil them up.

It should work just fine but will look ugly as hell, and might void the warranty..

[mcv300]

It's possible, but I wouldn't recommend it. The easiest way to shorten it is to strip the outer sheath off starting from the machine end and cutting towards the torch. Cut it open as much as you want to shorten it. Cut out a section of the inner gas line in the opening you made, being sure not to cut any wires. Then use a hose splice and crimps to re-connect the two ends. There will be a extra wiring the white, red, blue and purple wires which used to be wrapped around the inner gas line, just coil them up.

It should work just fine but will look ugly as hell, and might void the warranty..

After playing a few days with it, I choose to add some delay on my pierce, 0.2s is acceptable, so I don't have to cut anything

PM45 is a great machine , I can recommend it to anyone thinking buying a plasma, yes it cost more , but it saves me many trouble I had with other machine