HI, i have a plasma cutter which is still under warranty until next christmas. It will not cut its recommended clean cut which is 38mm it keeps snuffing the arc out after starting to cut every 2-3 seconds., I have tried most stuff, earth connections inside and out, cleaned the steel and clamped direct to steel being cut, new set of consumables including 2 spare retaining caps, 2 spare drag nozzles 2 of everything. copper strip in earth clamp is succured properly, linked 2 compressors together incase not enough air flow, pressure seems fine, electrical supply to workshop is only 4 years old and is to rated amps for plasma.
- Thread starter john135
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Barking Mat
Cuddler of hedgehogs.
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What thickness are you trying to cut ?
What's your air pressure set at ?
Is it a new machine ?
Have you used a plasma cutter before ?
Are you giving it time to start, before dragging ?
Photos please, torch, consumables and failed cuts.
What power setting is it set to ?
What's your air pressure set at ?
Is it a new machine ?
Have you used a plasma cutter before ?
Are you giving it time to start, before dragging ?
Photos please, torch, consumables and failed cuts.
What power setting is it set to ?
Erie Fred
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A Powermax 125 will clean cut that thick.....Does the OP own a Powermax 125 ?
BTW if you move too slowly, the fire will go out.
Cutting out every 2-3 seconds might be from too slow of torch speed.
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
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I had trouble with my R Tech 50 plasma after changing the torch , was spitting n farting stoping n starting, turned out to be the air pressure to high. Try playing with your pressure settings.
Erie Fred
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If your similar set-up did it in the past, what could possibly have changed ?
I do see your problem much more clearly now.
Many times a complaint such as yours was about a cheap chinese machine,
in which the capacity is overrated (greatly).
However, I can't access the Oxford website, it's blocked on this side of the pond.
EDIT: I found a work around, and it looks like the older 1000 is using the Hypertherm
duramax torch/consumables. I can't find machine info though.
I see the 111 is supposed to output 110 amps, and the torch looks identical.
So yes, I agree, and the only thing I could think of the machine is not outputting
110 amps.
oilcooled :)
Pipe Welder, Mechanical engineer
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It’s your power coming in definitely. That thing prob needs 16kva 80 amp fuse. And factor in a compressor, your mains connection is fairly well stressed out. Ideally I’d want a 125 amp main connection and your own transformer, that’s 3 phase territory, I’m the same here myself I’m just putting in 3 phase this year when your at the limits of single phase decisions need to be made.
the 1000 model i had used the same mains supply and it cut 40mm without stopping and starting. Also if you look on the oxford website it says it needs a 63amp slow blow fuse for maximum output on a single phase supply. I have tried it a t 100amp and it still stops and starts. the 1000 model was 100amp max power.
oilcooled :)
Pipe Welder, Mechanical engineer
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You need to rule out every thing that needs a minimum of a 63 amp blue plug, or hard wired in ideally, if there’s a 32 amp plug on it you won’t pull them amps, that old model was a transformer maybe it was a bit more forgiving. I had a 550 model here and it was at the same thing as you describe till I got the 29kva single phase installed
skotl
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I'm not sure that's technically correct, electrically.
Voltage is pushed, amperage is pulled (simplistically speaking). So if the supply is capable of delivering 63A then the welder will get it unless the MCB trips or the cable melts.
oilcooled :)
Pipe Welder, Mechanical engineer
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An electrician told me them brass pins in a blue plug are only fit for so many amps? I’m not an electrician, but them 63 amp plugs aren’t that common, most people use the 32s but your pulling double the power threw it . I could be wrong on that I don’t no
Might eventually melt at elevated current, but no, even 13A plug contacts will pass around 100A at a push. If the wiring, plug/socket etc are too high resistance, then you'll see a voltage drop which might be what the electrician meant. Although I've met plenty who really have some interesting misunderstanding
skotl
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Indeed. So, assuming the supply can provide sufficient amps (and I presume it can, if the OP was getting that originally) then that's not the problem.
Gotta say that, given this thread and the OP's other one about compressors, it seems most likely that there's something up with the unit itself - as it's still under warranty, I'd be starting with the supplier.
