Electrodes and tips welding closed in 5 minutes

[gocanes719]

I have a miller spectrum 375 I've used for several years. I don't use it everyday just as needed on the plasmacam. I had to get some small ovals cut for trophy bases and used the same settings on my plasmacam and the plasmacutter and for whatever reason I couldn't get a tip and elctrode to last more than one cut. The tip and elctrode were both welding themselves closed and the tip would turn orange. I changed 5 sets of tips and elctrodes in an hour. Normally a tip and electrode last me weeks. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what could be going on? I'm confused because I used it the same way I have for years. I basically had to put a new set of consumables for every oval I cut.

[jimcolt]

Sounds as though either the pilot arc circuit is staying on....which puts a high amount of current on the nozzle, ultimately overheating it. Could also be an air flow restriction...I would recomend contacting Miller's tech service.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

I have a miller spectrum 375 I've used for several years. I don't use it everyday just as needed on the plasmacam. I had to get some small ovals cut for trophy bases and used the same settings on my plasmacam and the plasmacutter and for whatever reason I couldn't get a tip and elctrode to last more than one cut. The tip and elctrode were both welding themselves closed and the tip would turn orange. I changed 5 sets of tips and elctrodes in an hour. Normally a tip and electrode last me weeks. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what could be going on? I'm confused because I used it the same way I have for years. I basically had to put a new set of consumables for every oval I cut.

[RobertM]

For my Hypertherm, when I bought off brand consumables I had the exact same problem. It made my weekend a living hell. Monday I went the the weld shop and bought Hypertherm parts, put them in and all was good in the world again. As a machinist, I measured the two versions and all dimensions were the same within .001 except the diameter of the tungsten imbedded in the tip. It didn't seem like a big deal, but it was huge. I was trying to cut 3/4 steel and the off brand never made it. I'll never deviate again.