Lidl Plasmas Coming Soon!

[zx9]

4.5 Bar is the maximum rated input. There would be some pressure drop by the time the air gets to the torch connector, dependent on the amount of tubing between regulator and plasma cutter, and on the regulator itself.

This is true however the small bore tube 5mm ish internal is less than 500mm and has the direct path through the T so not going to be a lot of drop, probably less than in your measured pressures from the internal compressor which uses the side of the T and has to pass a 90 deg. turn.

 

[GRW]

Way less than the max 4.5 bar or 65 psi they quote for the external air input.

Overall I think I'm happy with the non-compressor but pilot arc unit I got over the on-board compressor type

 

[zx9]

Overall I think I'm happy with the non-compressor but pilot arc unit I got over the on-board compressor type

I am beginning to think you may be right.
I am also thinking the easy way to add external air control is to add a foot switch, it has to be easier than a foot switch for the tig because it would be just press to go, job done.

 

[Seadog]

I've not tried to use the guide. I cut 6mm just dragging. As long as you angle the torch into the cut a little, it'll clear the slag fairly well.

 

[GRW]

I cut some maybe 5mm thick walled high pressure steel pipe with my pilot arc the other day..... & I did find it difficult with my 30A Pilot arc.
I found the guide was rubbish as well, but bought a couple of thicker metal ones that are easier to use to drag the torch than the "bit of bent wire" guide it comes with.
I've not tried just no guide and drag on the steel.
If the nozzle & tip aren't tip-top though - it does seem you're p***ing into the wind trying to cut anything thickish.

 

[Pinky]

I baught one, and I live on the iow, normally were a year behind, very impressive bit of kit, would not work to start with had to wiggle
The wires then it fired up
Best of luck finding one

 

[Onoff]

First go using mine in anger yesterday. To cut/shape some 2mm stainless plate. I should add that this was after fitting the pilot arc torch as recommended above. First time I've ever used one really. Internal air compressor. The arc fired up in mid air though I had to whack the amps up a bit to get it stable and not spluttering. Had to turn it up again to get through the plate. Some little video clips:

https://flic.kr/p/2p6sEKg

Had to turn the amps up:

https://flic.kr/p/2p6vaJi

Second attempt at getting through in one, I also turned the wire guide around a bit so it ran better on the wooden guide:

https://flic.kr/p/2p6u9Qp

Straight cut using a ragged bit of galv plate as the guide:

https://flic.kr/p/2p6sDsb

 

[Onoff]

Being a complete newbie to plasma cutting, is there a cut width for these things or is it dependant on material, thickness, amperage and travel speed of the torch? Cheers.

 

[hotponyshoes]

Being a complete newbie to plasma cutting, is there a cut width for these things or is it dependant on material, thickness, amperage and travel speed of the torch? Cheers.

It's mainly dependent on the size of the torch tip. The cut size is around 2.5x the hole in the tip.
Everything else you mentioned will have an effect plus a few other variables like air and power fluctuations. Higher amps will produce a bigger arc/wider cut.

It's hard to get a precision width cut by hand, I put quite a bit of effort into trying to cut slots into sheet so I could slide another bit of sheet through.
I eventually gave up as I found quicker ways of doing it without the plasma.

Plasma is pretty repeatable so you can do a test cut and measure the width of that for sizing templates/guide rail offset etc.

 

[choco]

I would imagine adding this wire for pilot arc would decrease the cutting thickness of the machine. When the machine is cutting , some of the power will be going back through that wire. You would have to hook up a relay or something to disconnect the pilot wire when cutting.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I would imagine adding this wire for pilot arc would decrease the cutting thickness of the machine. When the machine is cutting , some of the power will be going back through that wire. You would have to hook up a relay or something to disconnect the pilot wire when cutting.

Full power should go through the workpiece when cutting.
The pilot arc return wire is only to provide a path when the arc can not contact the workpiece (rust/paint/etc)

 

[Kram]

Anyone had a proper play with it yet and able to suggest correct power for different thicknesses and materials?

Thanks!

 

[rich_c]

Finally made successful cuts with mine today after determining I'm an idiot. Basically, I tried to cut thick rusty steel starting from the middle, blew through all 3 tips in record time and just lightly pitted the surface!

After reading the forum I realised I needed needed pilot arc for what I was attempting so thank you to @zx9 and @Onoff for posting your recent torch adventures as it made ordering and modifying one a breeze (I cheated and just slipped the red wire under the same dinse grub screw as the earth wire for now though).

Cut was slightly better but still not good. I assumed it was my technique and ploughed on until that tip had seen better days. Paused for thought and concluded there wasn't enough air pressure to blow out the molten metal, I considered getting the big compressor out but thought I'd just double-check the rear valve was shut on the machine

My technique could still do with some practice, but made it through this rusty mess eventually. I progressively worked up from about 25A but ended up maxed out 40A for best (fastest/full cut through) results.

First attempt with minimal air:

Successful 2 long sides cut: