TD Auto-cut 200 XT301 consumable life expectations

[3gcustoms]

i have aTD Auto-cut 200 with a XT301 torch that i run a 5x10 table in our fab shop. the cut quality is really excellent but the consumable lift if not what i would expect it to be. its not uncommon for me to get less that 300 pierces from a brand new set of consumables on 3/8 MS. clean dry air and Oxygen . the cuts from the time the consumables are new until they blow out is beautiful. but a consumable change cost about $70 so i would like to track down what im doing wrong.

[weldguy]

Nor sure what those systems are projected to get for pierces on 3/8 plate but 300 doesn't sound awful to me. If you double check your pierce delay and confirm it is no longer than needed, and physically measure the pierce and cut heights with feeler gauges to see how close they are to what TD suggests that would be about all you can do to try and improve things I think. Once you have it tweaked as good as you can get I would then just pass the consumable cost on to the customer and not worry about it.

[Jason@bc]

I just read this.....I have the same machine, I cut lots of 1/2'' plate, and I know I don't get more than 300 pierces per consumable set. I had a guy from Ontario here last winter to set up my machine, and I asked him on consumable life, he said if you're going to get 250 pierces you'll do good. I didn't quite believe it but after cutting for a year I see he's right.

[adbuch]

300 pierces on 3/8" steel plate sounds normal to me. Maybe try some edge starts if you want them to last a bit longer.

David