powermax 45 question - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

cnc4me · 05-31-2010, 12:59 PM

I was doing some dry runs but allowing my plasma to come on just to see if my compressor could keep up with it. The power unit pressure LED is telling me all is good, staying right in the middle where it should be, but the torch wont stay like for the whole program. All I'm running is the line speed test as my dry run program. My question is- do I need to have the earth clamp attached to the table or some other material for the torch to stay lit? Dont understand why it wont stay lit if the air is good and it has enough power. As I'm still learning I thought I would just cut some air and not burn up valuable material, dont know if this a problem for a plasma or not.

KacksterK5 · 05-31-2010, 01:45 PM

Yup, ground has to be on and cutting something to stay lit.

cnc4me · 05-31-2010, 03:18 PM

Ah ok thanks. One more hurdle behind me.

jimcolt · 06-02-2010, 04:34 AM

Firing the torch without the work clamp attached to the workpiece will only allow the pilot arc to activate....and if it senses no arc attachment it will time out and shut the arc off. Excess firing of the pilot arc will wear the nozzle orifice very rapidly, and is not recommended.

Jim

05-31-2010, 12:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
cnc4me Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Member # 156241 Posts: 41	powermax 45 question I was doing some dry runs but allowing my plasma to come on just to see if my compressor could keep up with it. The power unit pressure LED is telling me all is good, staying right in the middle where it should be, but the torch wont stay like for the whole program. All I'm running is the line speed test as my dry run program. My question is- do I need to have the earth clamp attached to the table or some other material for the torch to stay lit? Dont understand why it wont stay lit if the air is good and it has enough power. As I'm still learning I thought I would just cut some air and not burn up valuable material, dont know if this a problem for a plasma or not.

05-31-2010, 01:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
KacksterK5 Rock God Join Date: Jul 2001 Member # 5851 Location: Harford County, MD Posts: 1,418	Yup, ground has to be on and cutting something to stay lit. __________________ "If you ain't first, you're last" 86 4Raisin A bunch of stuff under it 02 Chevy 2500 HD Tow Rig Last edited by KacksterK5; 05-31-2010 at 01:46 PM.

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05-31-2010, 03:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
cnc4me Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Member # 156241 Posts: 41	Ah ok thanks. One more hurdle behind me.

06-02-2010, 04:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
jimcolt Rock God Join Date: Nov 2009 Member # 145912 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 1,252	Firing the torch without the work clamp attached to the workpiece will only allow the pilot arc to activate....and if it senses no arc attachment it will time out and shut the arc off. Excess firing of the pilot arc will wear the nozzle orifice very rapidly, and is not recommended. Jim