Plasma cutter hassles, advice needed

[chunkolini]

About a month back my Hobart plasma cutter went all weird on me.
ie went 'FZNIT!' and spat a flame out of the side of the torch, just melted my thumb nail slightly. A close one.

Anyway, I sent it off to get it repaired.
Cue the usual nonsense, a weekly phone call then daily phone calls.
'parts not in stock' 'parts on order' etc 'maintenance man away'.
Called them up a couple of days back, ie a month after sending it off.
'Cant get the parts we will fit a new torch that we have lying about'.
They have tested it and said ' it did not cut 10mm very well but seemed ok'
Hackles go up on my behalf.
I need the thing as I am in the middle of two paid for jobs.
Got it back yesterday, seemed to work ok ishly.

Gave it a proper test today. Not impressed, lots of dross on the cut, cut much wider than it was before it was 'fixed.
I am doing a lot of delicate work with fine cuts and lines see image below.
Left hand side was done pre repair, right side afterwards.

Not too impressive.

the old torch was this one. Black bodied.

replaced with this one, red bodied.

Much bulkier, and not so nice to use.
I was charged £190.00 to supply and fit it with a few consumables.

Not a happy bunny.
I have a few options, bearing in mind that I need to get these jobs done last week.
1, put up and shut up. Not likely.
2, Refuse to pay and offer them the option of me remove the torch or return the cutter to them or let them do this.
Then either
Buy a new complete plasma from Rtech for £400.00, my preferred option and look into fitting a new torch myself and selling the old one myself.
or try and get it repaired again. the plasma is about 12 years old maybe more. Hmmm.

Last shot, the connection end of the original torch.

Looks simple enough to fit a new torch, I am wary of messing about with this type of stuff but that does not look too complicated.
I am going to speak to the 'repairers' on Monday so I have a few days to get my act together.

so have I been fairly treated? have they fobbed me off with a junk torch?
How much should it cost to get a new torch fitted?

Edit.
Just looked on Fleabay, a similar torch and hose is about £160.00 so maybe the price was not too bad.

Edit II might they have supplied too big a nozzle? the old one was pointier and easier to work accurately with
Cheers all.

 

[astro_al]

I sympathise with the problem of being mid-job, but if someone had 'repaired' my plasma by fitting a non-proprietary torch I wouldn't accept it. That's just a generic trafimet torch.

I suppose 12 year old plasma parts may be hard to find. Unlike a lot of tools, plasmas have changed at a fair rate over the last 10 or 15 years.

But, if it works... A plasma in hand is worth a better one in the bush. Or something.

Al

 

[chunkolini]

Hmm
works but only sort of.

 

[FranV8]

That's a Trafimet torch alright, I thought they were reasonable quality?

Chunko' - the new tip is a drag tip, so you just pull it along the work without needing to hover above the surface. I think the tapered one you had is called a pipe cutting tip, and should be held just above the surface being cut. There is plenty of different tips available for t hat torch, perhaps try one with a smaller orifice or switch to the pointy type?

You might get slightly better cut quality if you try touching the tip to the work?

 

[chunkolini]

Have tried doing it both ways, hard to see what I am doing, see the pictures to get an idea of the kind of fiddly nonsense I get up to.
Running it along the surface seemed to give a decent cut, but still wider than I need.
is a finer tip an option?

 

[FranV8]

Tec Arc on EvilBay list nozzles, different dias on request.

 

[GrahamGKD]

.... is a finer tip an option?

I can't comment on the Trafimet but in the manual for my Hypertherm it suggests fitting the consumables from the next size smaller machine for doing fine/thin work.

 

[astro_al]

That rings a bell - I used to have a machine with a trafimet torch. I think the nozzles come with different size orifices (orifi?) - measured in thou if memory serves. I'm sure there is an appropriate amperage range for each one, but a smaller hole will prob help.

Al.

 

[gordon stephenson]

My Hypertherm powermac 45 can also use the consumables from the powermac 30 to get a finer cut, as long as you restrict the power to 30 amps instead of the full 45 amps. I know Hypertherm plasma cutters are pricy,but for cutting performance they are absolutely top class. Also the nozzles and electrodes last for simply ages,

 

[astro_al]

Absolutely. If you ever have the budget for one Chunko - do it.

Gordon, can't you get 'Finecut' consumables for a 45 - or are they only for the larger machines?

Al.

 

[Country Joe]

can't you get 'Finecut' consumables for a 45 - or are they only for the larger machines?

Mine has fineCut consumables, and it's only an oldish one - PowerMax 380 - not one of the newer lighter inverter type things!
All the Best,
CJ

 

[gordon stephenson]

I think for the 45 they don't call them fine cut anymore, they just recommend using the Powermax 30 bits, I have got some but not used them so far, the 45 consumables do a great job and narrow enough kerf for most cutting, If I fancy doing any free hand arty stuff in thinnish plate I will give them a try. The machine it self is just so impressive and 3 year warranty too.

A quote from Jim Colt, Hypertherm guru that works for them.

The Powermax45 can use the Powermax30 consumables (the retaining cap, nozzle, electrode, swirl ring).....this allows for unshielded cutting at up to 30 amps....with a slightly narrower kerf width. Expect shorter consumable life than you will get with the 45 amp shielded parts...part of the shield technology advantage is consumable life.

 

[chunkolini]

Got fed up today.
Called them this morning, and was offered the loan of an SIP plasma while they fix mine properly. They were trying to make me feel that they have been soo reasonable.
A month back I asked if they had a loan/demo model and was ignored.
I said that I would have a cap on the cost of repairing my olde cutter, at 12 years old it could be at the point of terminal decline, said I was looking at the Rtech one for £400 and was virtually told I was buying the SIP. No chance methinks, conveniently my phone cut me off in an act of divine intervention.
Took a strop and ordered a new one from Rtech.
The driver came to collect my old one to go back to base for torch removal, I said I was not convinced by the offer of the SIP. 'god no' he says 'they are not much cop'.
I asked if I could quote him to his boss,then felt real bad as I think he thought I would dob him in for being honest.
So I will report back when new thingy arrives.
Then I have to think about what to do with the old one.

 

[Kafer_meister]

Got fed up today.
Called them this morning, and was offered the loan of an SIP plasma while they fix mine properly. They were trying to make me feel that they have been soo reasonable.
A month back I asked if they had a loan/demo model and was ignored.
I said that I would have a cap on the cost of repairing my olde cutter, at 12 years old it could be at the point of terminal decline, said I was looking at the Rtech one for £400 and was virtually told I was buying the SIP. No chance methinks, conveniently my phone cut me off in an act of divine intervention.
Took a strop and ordered a new one from Rtech.
The driver came to collect my old one to go back to base for torch removal, I said I was not convinced by the offer of the SIP. 'god no' he says 'they are not much cop'.
I asked if I could quote him to his boss,then felt real bad as I think he thought I would dob him in for being honest.
So I will report back when new thingy arrives.
Then I have to think about what to do with the old one.

I've got an R-tech 40 plasma Chuck and I think it's fine. The folk at R-tech are really helpful too and problems are sorted quickly and easily.

 

[shirazman]

My Hypertherm powermac 45 can also use the consumables from the powermac 30 to get a finer cut, as long as you restrict the power to 30 amps instead of the full 45 amps. I know Hypertherm plasma cutters are pricy,but for cutting performance they are absolutely top class. Also the nozzles and electrodes last for simply ages,

gotta agree. We tried a few others but NOTHING compares to hypertherm

 

[chunkolini]

Would have liked the Hypertherm but this was an emergency buy so I ordered the Rtech 40, arrived yesterday, seems to work well but the torch is a bit of a Mikey mouse affair, but £500 seems a good buy. Yet another 'shop soiled' jobbie. With 15 sets of consumables.
Today it gets a proper test.
I have to cut these out for a customer.

 

[madkayaker]

R tech must have a dirty old shop!

 

[chunkolini]

Gave it a good test drive today.

Got this cut out with no problems, all the offcuts fell off freely and I have some nice bits in my box of useful stuff.
Only 1.6mm sheet but cut it quickly and left a nice clean edge.
Thought I had a problem at one point, when I turned the machine on air was coming out of the torch and would not stop. I figured a stuck valve or something, bit I had the switch on the front set to 'gas test' so you check the pressure it is running at. Glad I did not phone them about that.
the torch.

As I said it looks a bit Mickey Mouse, but seems to work and is easy to dismantle. they offer an upgrade but I will leave it for now.
So far very pleased with it.

My plan for the old one? is buy the cheapest torch I can find and see if I can get it fitted then sell it on. There are some daft cheap torches on fleabay.

 

[lexi]

Are you using air straight out of compressor?........or bottled?

I don't think my cut 40 Greenbird could do that. Maybe my lack of skill?

 

[chunkolini]

I use a compressor, and a lot of practice.