Apologies if this appears as a repost.
I have just this very afternoon acquired a SIP "Plasma 25" plasma cutter, complete in every way, apart from the operating instructions. Does anyone else here perchance have one, who can tell me how to make it strike ? I have juice and compressed air at the requisite pressures, the OK led is lit, air comes out when the trigger is pressed, but otherwise bugger all else is happening.
Or do I have to cool my heels till Monday ?
Steve
The one I saw working needed a very good contact with the metal being cut, this was achieved by grinding away any paint and using the touch like a hammer with the trigger pulled. It then struck and kept going.
Peter.
Thanks for that Peter. I think this one is supposed to have a pilot arc start - but I don't see one.
I don't even know if the torch is assembled correctly yet !
Steve
I have printed that one out, but what the hell is "pilot arc" then ?
Steve
first thing, you have to have the earth lead connected to the workpiece .
the torch will be either a touch type which will start the arc when youve pressed the trigger and have the electrode touching the work , or it will be a torch that starts an arc when the trigger is pressed but unless it is held above the metal to be cut in the correct position the arc will go out after a couple of seconds if you dont have the torch in correct position and start cutting .
i presume you know you need a compressor to run the plasma cutter , with the correct pressure set , unless its one of the lateast plasma cutters with an internal compressor fitted .
depending on the type of cutting torch head fitted you will have to make sure the shroud ,electrode and nozzle are in place properly but i dont think those plasma cutters need any setting up much .
when cutting use a straight edge to run torch against if cutting straight lines and go slowly across the plate when cutting it .
there are probably attatchments available for cutting circles also , probably from starweld/parweld or starparts .
. .
unless it is held
This is what I thought I had, when it said "pilot arc".
Yup, and it eats air at 210 lpm/5 bar. There is a pressure switch that warns of underpressure.
Thanks for the tips. I'm going to nip back to work to have a play.
Steve
In article , Steve Taylor writes
C'mon, don't keep us in suspense...
Regards,
Simonm.
That's news to me!
Lizzy
No joy - lots of air, clicks from contactors in the box, but no $%^£&£* plasma.
Steve
Had this once with my Miller plasma cutter, turned out the problem was damp air from the compressor. Fitted a small continuous-bleed type water separator to the side of the plasma and never had any problems since. They are really, really, really susceptible to dampness in the airstream due to the high frequency arcing. Badger. B.H.Engineering, Rover V8 engine specialists
It SEEMS to be fitted with a separator :-(
Just at the moemnt, I could kill for a copy of the manual.
Steve
In article , Badger writes
It is _very_ humid ATM...
Regards,
Simonm.
Well, SIP STILL haven't delivered a manual but.....
Bwaaa hahahahahah !! IT WORKS !. The secret is to depress the tip against the work, and the arc strikes. I just spent a happy half an hour cutting curlicues and filigree out of 5mm plate steel, not far short as fast as you could draw with a pencil....
What a tool. Worth every penny. Make sure you have a fat power circuit though.
Steve
Glad you got it going Steve (green with envy here)
Nick
Steve Taylor vaguely muttered something like ...
First welding kit my brother got )He's now a professional welder) was used on a circuit in the shed, fed from the house lights ..
He somehow blew the whole street ... apparently some fault in a local sub-station co-incided with his 'practice welds' ... ;)
Ah but.... Beware.
The model I have, the 25 SHOULD have a pilot arc start - this unit doesn't- its got a bump start, therefore its been built wrong.....copious apologies from SIP, and NEW cutter coming on Friday....
and its also very clever, its capacity is 5mm or 1/4" - so if you cut imperial sizes, you get 27% more capacity. How it can tell I don't know... :-)
Steve
I got a 25 amp plasma cutter a couple of years ago from machine mart and in their catalogue it said it had a pilot arc but after buying it found out only the bigger models have that and the 25 amp ones all have press start but it is a great bit of kit you buy an 8x4 sheet of ally how do you cut it up oh yes you use a plasma cutter and you are away what shape do you want ok there you go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Should have got one many years ago, also great for chassis cutting those outriggers off cutting out rust holes in the chassis etc the list is endless Rich ( mig and plasma cutter what else do you need!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )
Looks like that is what they are trying to pass off on me, except I have all the product literature, and a manual that says that this is a pilot arc start too. The "new" cutter they sent this afternoon is the same old crap as the first one.
'K' Steels, our suppliers, are dragging the SIP rep to see me on Monday, at my premises, where we expect to see the pilot arc we have paid for demonstrated. 'K's are extremely pissed off with this, since it was on a special promotion offer. I'll let you know what happens......
Steve
Good luck... :-)
As a complete aside (bearing in mind previous postings I've actually got around to reading...) a quickie question;
or two...
ok... 4 questions... :-)
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