Powermax 1250 air problem

[amron]

Hi
I have a Hypertherm powermax 1250 plasma cutter. my problem is that I have a
24liter air tank 8bar compressor which I think its not enough to enable the plasma to work. I can only pull the trigger and the "air" led on the plasma goes on. on the other hand, I know that there are plasma cutters that have a built in compressor and I guess that they are smaller than my compressor, so, how do they work?

 

[gordon stephenson]

What bore hose do you have feeding the plasma and how long is it? It sounds to me that the hose is too small a bore and as soon as you pull the trigger the pressure is dropping,With a 24 ltr tank you will not cut for very long unless your compressor is capable of keeping pace with the air needed by the cutter,

 

[amron]

As I wrote - I can't cut at all. the "air" led on the plasma panel goes on as soon as I pull the trigger. the hose 5/16 and it's not very long.

 

[gordon stephenson]

What happens if you raise the pressure to the machine?

 

[amron]

Thanx. I'll try it.

 

[astro_al]

Hmm. Very odd. It's either a fault or a set up issue.

You need to give some more info. Which lights are lit on the digital air pressure gauge before you press the trigger? What pressure is set at the regulator on your compressor?

It does sound like to compressor is very small for this machine, but there is no way you'd get zero cutting time, so it's not that. Plasmas with internal compressors have pretty weak air supplies, small cutting capacities and poor duty cycles. Nothing like your machine.

Photos or a detailed descriptn of your set up would help. Compressor CfM or horsepower for a start.

Does air flow from the torch at all? Does it hiss? Do you get post flow once you release the trigger, even if it doesn't cut?

What happens to the air monitor lights when you press the torch button?

What happens if you wind the amp control fully anticlockwise, do you get air flowing through the torch?

Al.

 

[amron]

Thanx Al
I'll check all the points that I cant answer right now and come back with answers.
1. when the compressor (which is factory set to 8bar )is full - the light on the panel indicat that I can use the machine and indeed it responds - the pilot arc (hv) is on and air flows out of the torch.
2. the compressor is rated 2Hp, but since it's chineese - who knows? (it's new)
3. after I pull the trigger and I hear the air flow - the orange led (lack of air) is lit and it goes out only after a new cycle of the compressor and after Iv'e reseted it by turning the cutter to "off" and then to "on" again/
Thanx.

 

[gordon stephenson]

What pressure is the regulator on the compressor set to, I turn mine to well in excess of the plasma requirements and adjust the cutting pressure on my powermax to the high side of the correct air light coming on.
Your regulator might not be capable of passing enough air.Particularly if it is one of those that have a small plastic shut off valve, they only have about a 3mm diameter hole through them.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Duff regulator? Allows enough air through to trip the pressure switches, but the allows no flow when you push the button.
KF

 

[gordon stephenson]

X2 with KF.

 

[amron]

Hi and thank you all.
I've checked today once more, after closing the air regulator on the front of the plasma cutter, a bit and it looks much better, but I dont think that I will be able to work with that tiny compressor. it delivers 4.6 cfm (the tank is 24lit). what I shell try is to connect an additonal tank of 25lit that I have so that I'll
get the effect of a bigger tank that will deliver enough air (at least I hope so).
at least I believe now that the plasma is in working order (I purchased it second hand).

 

[astro_al]

Amron - sounds like you don't have a manual for the machine, they are full of good info and troubleshooting tips. I think you can download them from the H-therm website.

I don't think your compressor if big enough for the plasma, but cant remember the requirements off hand. I have a much larger one and it runs quite a bit while I'm cutting. A larger tank will only get you a bit more cutting time before the compressor kicks in, you need a bigger motor really, unless you're only doing small cuts.

Whereabouts are you?

Good luck, Al.

 

[amron]

Hi Al
First, I'll adopt your advise regarding the manual. since it's second hand as I've mentioned, I dont have the manual for it. having it will be helpfull.
I would like to try to connect the second tank, maybe it wont be a full solution but it might work in the short run. in order to carry it out, I have to buy some connectors & fittings. as for your last question - I live in Israel.

 

[astro_al]

Ah, probably cant get a forum member to have a look then...

Honestly, I wouldn't spend any money adding a 25 litre tank. That's too small to justify any investment.

Look for a replacement compressor. I used to have a 3 HP, 14 CFM compressor with a 150 or 200 litre tank, that's what I think the minimum requirement is for these machines realistically. I now have a bigger one, and it still works quite hard to keep up.

Cheers, Al.

 

[Premiershipman]

+1 on Als comment, I had a mini hobby compressor and upgraded to an ABAC 3HP 150L and that runs out if you are doing any biggish/thick cuts.

 

[amron]

I had a 5HP 200lit compressor but I've traded it for a milling machine. I think it was a good bargain for me. as for the additional tank - it wont cost nothing, I already have it, so I'll give it a try and according to your recommendations - I'll start looking for a bigger compressor.

 

[KemppiFrog]

I don't quite follow this. Whatever size of compressor could cope with a short run, until it ran out of breath. You appear to have a problem on start up, hence my commente on the regulator being duff. I ran my old Cebora Prof 35 on a 1 hp powered 2 cyl compressor using a gas cylinder as a receiver. No problems on longish cuts,around a mtr. It never tripped from low pressure.
Might you try removing the reg and trying it on the end of the air line?
KF

 

[amron]

KF
Thanx for your comment. I guess that the difference is the air consumptiom
of the plasma cutter. I guess that a small machine needs less volume of air that a bigger one. oh, and one thing, I've closed a little the pressure regulator on the front of the machine and that caused an improvement.
and to the final point - as from yesterday I have a bigger compressor, ca. 150lit and I hope that will solve the problem. It will take a few days since I want to clean it up and install it and then I will be glad to update.

 

[astro_al]

KF - yes I concur, you'd get some cutting with just about any size of compressor. To have zero cut time from start-up indicates the compressor size isn't the initial issue, although in this case it was an additional one.

Machine set wrongly I suspect.

Al.