Nozzle and Electrode Damage

[grindergary]

I am cutting 16 ga at book specs on a HT 105. When I went to cut some 3/8" parts and changed the consumables, I noticed that the electrode has a curved cuts in the end. I also see there looks like arc marks on inside of nozzle too.This was a new electrode and nozzle when I started this job. Cut half a sheet of material. The cuts were good and there didn't seem to be any problems.

I have a water filter inline and then a oil filter, regulator, filter and then a decadent filter after that. I put a gauge on back of plasma and have 120 into plasma and 110 when cutting 3/4" at 85 amps. I have enough air and the filters are all dry.


As soon as I check to see how to upload an image I will try.

Thanks

Gary

[JEd]

Were you using finecut consumables to cut the 16 gauge? I see this when I use them with my PM 65.

[grindergary]

Yes, I am using fine cut consumables.

Thanks for your reply,

Gary

[Bigrhamr]

Verify that you are cutting and piercing at the recommended height, not just going by the book specs but by actual measurements. Piercing too low can ruin consumables in a hurry.

[Team Tracker]

Be sure you are running in non-continuous pilot arc mode, should be second dial position from the top on your 105. If that is good it is possible that you still have some moisture in your air supply despite all of your filtration efforts.

[grindergary]

Thanks for the reply.
Bigrhamr Yes I have checked the height again and it is on what ir is supposed to be.

Reid T, Yes dial is right. I am starting to think that it is time to redo all the air system and go for something better. I have let the air blow on a mirror and did not notice any moisture from torch end. I also tried someones idea to put a pad for make up under the torch and let it run. I let it run for 15 minutes and no staining.

I wonder if there is reside oil in the line from before when the compressor blew up and put oil in the lines. I'm thinking that the filters we not enough for that. Guess spend another $500.00 bucks and get new torch assembly.

HT support said to put a bottle of Nitrogen thru the system after I cleaned all the lines and get any moisture and oil out. Maybe not enough.

Thanks for the support, I really appreciate it.

Gary

[planetxfred]

You did not say how th e cuts turned out. Good / bad/ or in be tween.
With my Duramax retrofit torch, I have seen little curved arc paths on both the inside of the nozzle and on the end of the electrode. It has not affected how it cuts.

Fred

[grindergary]

You did not say how th e cuts turned out. Good / bad/ or in be tween.
With my Duramax retrofit torch, I have seen little curved arc paths on both the inside of the nozzle and on the end of the electrode. It has not affected how it cuts.

Fred

The cuts look really good. No problem with the cuts, just wondering if something is wrong.

Thanks

Gary

[BrianMick]

I am running a duramax torch and that is a normal look to the consumables...
Brian

[jimcolt]

Gary,

Without some good closeup pictures it is impossible for us to determine if the wear you describe is abnormal.

Remember...The plasma produces an ionized gas arc that approaches 25,000 degrees fahrenheit....this occurs inside your air cooled torch. The electrode is made from copper for heat transfer efficiency....with an earth element hafnium slug that is swaged into the center...this is where the arc attaches to the electrode. The copper nozzle take the arc and using an accurately designed swirl of air molecules....forces the high temperature arc to squeeze through a small orifice, increasing the energy density, the temperature and the velocity of the arc so it can accurately and efficiently melt and remove metal.

Copper melts at close to 1000 degrees F, hafnium melts at around 3100 degreesF. After 36 years in the plasma cutting business it still amazes me that we can get thousands of feet of cutting using compressed air and a single nozzle and electrode. They are called consumables because eventually they are consumed! There are high end industrial plasma systems that cut faster, cleaner, with better quality and get miles (not merely thousands of feet) of cut out of a single set of consumables.....these torches use gases for cutting (not air) and are liquid cooled.

So...before you start modifying your air system....lets determine if the wear is normal consumable wear! Pictures would be great! Also....and idea of how many starts, what power level, how thick, and average cut cycle duration....alll of which have an effect on the wear. Best regards, Jim Colt Hypertherm


B

I am cutting 16 ga at book specs on a HT 105. When I went to cut some 3/8" parts and changed the consumables, I noticed that the electrode has a curved cuts in the end. I also see there looks like arc marks on inside of nozzle too.This was a new electrode and nozzle when I started this job. Cut half a sheet of material. The cuts were good and there didn't seem to be any problems.

I have a water filter inline and then a oil filter, regulator, filter and then a decadent filter after that. I put a gauge on back of plasma and have 120 into plasma and 110 when cutting 3/4" at 85 amps. I have enough air and the filters are all dry.


As soon as I check to see how to upload an image I will try.

Thanks

Gary

[beefy]

I don't know if this is the way the Hypertherm nozzle works but IF it is then it may explain the arc marks inside the nozzle and on the electrode.

Some electrodes are spring loaded and press against the inside of the nozzle when the air is off. When the air is turned on the electrode gets pushed back against the spring, moving away from the nozzle. As it loses contact with the nozzle an arc is struck which "ignites" the air. This arcing on the inside of the nozzle may be caused like this.

That is just some literature I am relaying, so I may not have it correct.

Keith.

[grindergary]

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s230 ... -00030.jpg

Here is a picture. Not very good but I think you will get the idea.

Thanks

Gary

[BrianMick]

yup thats normal
same thing I see on both my hi def machine and the duramax torch
Brian

[jimcolt]

Looks normal.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[grindergary]

Thank everyone! Now another issue has come up. I will start another post.

Gary