28
Plasma Cutting Problems
Excessive use of
consumables (short
life time of
consumables)
Low air pressure or low air
flow (or too high)
Check for low air pressure to the plasma machine (low
flow can be caused by a long air hose with a small internal
diameter or leaks).
Ensure your compressor is set to deliver the correct CFM
as detailed in the plasma owner’s manual and can keep
this level maintained during your cutting operation
(consider other equipment being used on the same
airline).
Contaminated gas or
excessive moisture in the
air supply
Use suitable airline filters or air dryers and service the
devices as required as per the user manual.
If using a compressor, ensure the receiver is drained
regularly.
Drag cutting at high
amperages
Refer to the torch spare parts of this manual for the
correct use of cutting tips and their amperage ratings.
Dragging the cutting tip
against a metallic straight
edge
Ensure you use a non-metallic straight edge to
guide the torch along.
Excessive piloting
Keeping the pilot arc maintained will erode the
consumables much faster than when cutting, keep
piloting to a minimum.
Poor cut
quality
Improper travel speed
Refer to the cutting guide chart on page 21 of this
user manual for the correct settings for the
material being cut.
Cutting amperage not correct
Refer to the cutting guide chart on page 21 of this
user manual for the correct settings for the
material being cut.
Stand-off height not correct
Refer to the cutting guide chart on page 21 of this
user manual for the correct settings for the
material being cut.
Using incorrect
torch consumables
Refer to the plasma spare parts breakdown on page 23
of this user manual for the correct consumable
configuration for the applicatio n .
Worn consumables
Check and replace as necessary.
Plasma not delivering
enough output current
Have a technician check the output current of the
plasma to ensure it is meeting demand.
Incorrect air pressure or air
flow to the machine
Check machines air demand specifications, refer to
page 11 within this user manual to ensure air supply meets
the requirements.
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested action
