Powerpro 164 Plasma Cutter intermittently not cutting through 0.400" thk SS.

[gtty]

Tried out my plasma cutter today on a piece of 4" wide, 0.400" thk 304L. The first time I used it, it cut the plate fine. Then it would intermittently would not burn all the way through the plate. I could see and hear a difference in the arc when it wasn't cutting right. The compressor was keeping up (5hp, 26 gal, 5.8cfm @ 90 compressor). Any ideas on what it could be?

[JohnT]

Hi,
I also have a new PP164.
And I had a similar sounding problem. Twice..
First time I diidnt realize I had the pulse setting on 1 pulse per second.
Second time I had a bad ground..
Hope your issue is as simple.

[performance]

Check your consumables for tightness and wear.

[gtty]

Pulse was off, I moved the ground around, even sanded the steel to ensure nothing was insulating. I opened the torch up and everything looked ok. I just couldn't figure out why it would work well sometimes and othertimes the arc looked more spread out. That does sound like a bad air stream. But I would think it would have never worked. Next time I use it, I'll video my setup with some footage.

[everlastsupport]

Check the air pressure but main thing, make sure you have dry air. It will mess with you and kill consumables pretty fast too.

[JohnT]

So... Did you find the problem?

[gtty]

Still haven't found the problem. The consumables looked OK and the air pressure was good. May do some more cutting today to try and figure it out. Thanks for all your ideas.

My air is as dry as it can get in Houston in the summer. No water in the separator on the back of the machine. It goes through a small separator at the compressor and then on to one of these also http://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.com...FU4F7AodKUEApQ.

[performance]

I found a ground cable that was loose under the rubber boot the other day on a unit, where it was not tightened enough. It sounds as if the arc is not transferring. It's hard to know with the limited description. When you say it isn't cutting all the way through, if it is "scratching" only the surface, then it sounds like the pilot arc is not finding continuity, which would go back to the ground cable/clamp/connection. The change in the sound would seem to support that. Also watch what your pressure is dropping to when cutting? Where do you have it set?

[everlastsupport]

Still haven't found the problem. The consumables looked OK and the air pressure was good. May do some more cutting today to try and figure it out. Thanks for all your ideas.

My air is as dry as it can get in Houston in the summer. No water in the separator on the back of the machine. It goes through a small separator at the compressor and then on to one of these also http://www.nationaltoolwarehouse.com...FU4F7AodKUEApQ.

Looks like a good water trap/filter. I'm in Florida and have two traps inline and it can still get you. But normally, it will be moisture OR air pressure like Mark and I said OR consumables not tight (don't over tighten). Also could be the consumables are bad. Like also said check the ground clamp if not doing the arc transfer at all.