Plasma cut 40 again

[Daisy]

Hi we have spent most of today, Sunday trying to set up the Giant cut 40. I have read similar queries today on the site and registered at once.

I bought the machine from Blackburn Lancashire.....and I have the amazing "Benny Hill English' manual and real trouble getting the torch to ignite, how can I test that the earthing is correct? I have tried clamping it to a large steel kiln resting on quarry tiles, even a steel rod set into soil in the garden, I am cutting .7mm copper sheet, so not exactly arduous. I can't get so much as a spark, I have noticed an earth terminal on the back (no back view in manual) is this relevant?

Have tried various pressures on the compressor from 6-12 bar with no success - any ideas.
oh and there is a small leak from the regulator screw which is still not stopped after using PTFE tape on the thread.

Any more ideas out there? have scanned the whole of the plasma queries and they were helpful, thanks.

 

[Wozzaaah]

The earth clamp needs to be connected to whatever it is you're cutting to complete the circuit, not a metal object nearby.
It should be HF start which menas that when you press the torch trigger you should get a small spark between the tip and the workpiece before the main arc starts.
Regarding the machine having an earth terminal on the back, can you post a pic of it? Someone else on here is having similar problems with the same machine bought from the same people I believe.
A leak from the reg/filter isn't good either, get the seller to send you another if you get the machine working, if not, send the faulty machine back for a refund and buy one from somewhere else.
I've not heard many good stories about those sellers, they don't seem to offer particularly good after-sales support and they seem to have at least 2 or 3 ebay accounts under different names, one selling all their returned machines I believe.

 

[Daisy]

cut 40 again

thanks for prompt reply, I did try this to complete circuit but still no ignition, but will try again - no small spark either to begin. But will send piccie of earth terminal symbol and site on back of machine a.s.a.p. So what is HF start?

 

[Wozzaaah]

HF start is high frequency, it's basically a high voltage, high frequency spark a bit like the spark from a car spark plug which carries the main arc current across until it's established (ish ), it then turns off when the main current is stable.
Unfortunately it sounds like you've got a dead'un .

 

[Tractor Man]

I have that same machine, just to confirm, it does not have HF start. To start the cut you need to briefly allow the cutting tip of the torch to touch the work piece and then lift the torch up so an arc is created, then the torch must be kept a few mm away from the work being cut or the tip will be damaged.

The earth terminal on the back is to earth the machine if it is not earthed through the cable connected to the mains power (such as a 2 pin American plug), you shouldn’t need to worry about earthing the machine through this terminal.

Hope this helps!

 

[madkayaker]

The terminal at the back is a supplementary earth as said earlier. It would also need connecting if the welder was on a metal bench with other equipment on (Not that any one bothers)

 

[Daisy]

plasma 40 again

thanks to all excellent replies I got the system cutting this morning, a good fine line cut through .7mm copper plate, the light weight torch makes for easy "drawing" for free form shapes. The lack of HF start is a bit of a bind but at this start up price who is complaining?
On recommendation of Wozzaaah have contacted sales people and they are replacing regulator dial. So thanks all round, I am now off to search out spares.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Excellent!
So what did you do to get it cutting in the end, just touch the workpiece? If so then according to Tractor Man that's how it should work anyway.
Mine has 'pilot arc' start meaning that if I hold the torch in free air and press the trigger, a smallish arc stream shoots out of the nozzle.

 

[paulmowers]

HI Woz

re the hf start on the cut 40, mine always makes me jump as it is always a delay from pressing the trigger, and mine sounds like a loud fart noise. Its annoying i get the torch right where i want it, press the trigger, then phrrrrp, I jump a bit and put a hole through 5 to 10 mm away from where i intended.

Paul..

 

[eil]

Hold on tractor man says its not hf, so wheres the trumping coming from then paul

 

[Tractor Man]

The cut 40 plasma cutter is a chinese import cutter and many compaines put their own logos and colours on it. There are some variations however within the cut 40 name, alot of the slightly more expensive versions of it have the HF function, but many of the cheaper ones such as the giant cut 40 do not.

Glad you got it going Daisy , even though these cutters are not designed for industrial use, when set up correctly they can be very good and are ideal for diy use (alot faster than a grinder !)