hypertherm miss fire

[abmagrum]

Hi

Anyone know why the hypertherm miss fires?

Hypertherm 65 fine cut 45 amp 78 volts 250 ipm. 16 gauge no water and shielded tip.110-120 psi

Metal is a little rusty could this do it? Or is it bad consumables ?

Cuts fine then half way through it blips. Was brand new consumable

Replaced that one . no problems so far. that's 2 duds so far .first one didn't even cut. second one cut 2 parts then started miss firing

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks
Al

[gary42095]

dirty or wet air possibly causing electrode to stick. make sure you dont over tighten the parts too. snug is what you want. are you getting any error codes on the front of your pmx65?

[Stout]

Are the consumables made by Hypertherm?

Does the arc go out while cutting or does it just not fire on a pierce?

[jimcolt]

A misfire is at the beginning of the cut.....it would fire and possibly dimple the plate, then extinguish. From your description it sounds as though it is firing and cutting part way...then extinguishing.

-So...if it is extinguishing mid cut.....is it doing so on a sharp corner or an area where the torch motion is slowing drastically?
-Is the torch staying at .06" (thickness of a nickel) off the plate?
-Is your work ground attached directly to the plate?
-Do you get an error code? What is the code?

Jim Colt Hypertherm

Hi

Anyone know why the hypertherm miss fires?

Hypertherm 65 fine cut 45 amp 78 volts 250 ipm. 16 gauge no water and shielded tip.110-120 psi

Metal is a little rusty could this do it? Or is it bad consumables ?

Cuts fine then half way through it blips. Was brand new consumable

Replaced that one . no problems so far. that's 2 duds so far .first one didn't even cut. second one cut 2 parts then started miss firing

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks
Al

[abmagrum]

hi,
The consumables stop in mid project. I was just playing around with butterflies and a nine inch perch.
The last tip stopped any where it didn't matter. I put a new tip in and it was cutting good so far .
OH I think the error code was 30
I may try again tonight or tomorrow at the latest.(hard day at work).
I just wanted to know what is causing the miss fire so I can prevent it.
I will grind clean the GROUNDclamp area, and if it goes out again I will measure with a nickel.
Its not the air. Brand new $500.00 dallor filter from plasma store.
Im thinking maybe ground/rust problem.
the last tip when it cut before blipping cut nice before going out .
If I get this problem fixed. I can get to learning how to cut. so I can leave you guys alone.
I really appreciate all of youre guys help.
Thanks
Al

[gary42095]

your not real clear when you say mid project and "tip". but i am assuming you are talking about in between cuts (while it is getting ready to pierce again) then it just tries and doesn't. 0-30 is consumables stuck signal, according to jim colt (he would know) quote
"Most commonly when this error code pops up....it is due to the inlet air pressure being too low....or having something (such as a filter or fitting) right at the inlet that is restricting flow. This could show up more often if you were piercing while the torch is still in postflow (the cooling airflow that occurs after each cut). While in postflow the torch is designed to be able to refire...but the post flow would tend to reduce inlet pressure slightly.

If you have a way of increasing the inlet pressure....do that first. Following the instructions in your Hypertherm operators manual....activate the test air flow mode....then increase your inlet air pressure to about 100 to 120 psi (while flowing)."

slight rust should not cause a problem. and if it starts cutting fine and misfires its not your ground connection.
are you running torch height control? chances are all the consumables you have taken out are still good unless they are worn/burnt/melted , have pictures? it may be moisture stuck in your lines since before you installed filter setup? just some guesses but i am sure jim will be by with more useful info.
get all the details down, what codes are on plasma cutter, what are the numbers on all the consumable parts, what kind of air pressure you have while max and during cuts and im sure someone will be able to get you cutting in no time

[abmagrum]

Hi, Gary

Sorry I didn't explain it better.

I would be cutting out a butterfly and half way through on a pierce point it would just do a real faint blip.

that was my second consumable . I replaced the nozzle and electrode again and cut 2 butterfly's with no problems

I will test it out again tomorrow .

I don't think its air . installed brand new line 3/8 fittings for more air flow. runs at machine 110-120 psi drops to 80-90 and air is bone dry.

I think the problem is rusty metal. poor ground.

I am going to break out a better sheet to try. I wanted to make sure I could run the machine before I ordered metal.

if this problem is fixed I will be ordering new metal soon

Do you run a little water with youre fine cut? im dry right now. But I was thinking of PUTTING A half inch in the bottom to catch sparks and keep the water tray cool. is this a bad ideal?

THANKS
Al

[jimcolt]

Rusty metal will not cause a 0-30 error code. Low input air pressure will.

Where is the gauge located that you are reading the input air pressure? If it is at the compressor....and then you have a length of hose and a $500 filter...then it is entirely possible that you are getting some pressure drop between the compressor and the inlet fitting on the plasma.

Install a pressure gauge like the one I have pictured....go back to cutting and watch the gauge....especially after cutting for a while. I syuspect your pressure (under flowing conditions) occasionally drops below 90 psi....which causes the error code and the misfire.

The single most common issue with any air plasma system is inadequte inlet pressure under dynamic (air flowing at the torch) conditions. It is caused by:

- Compressor not keeping up
-Air hose to long or too small ID
-To much filtration


Jim Colt

Hi, Gary

Sorry I didn't explain it better.

I would be cutting out a butterfly and half way through on a pierce point it would just do a real faint blip.

that was my second consumable . I replaced the nozzle and electrode again and cut 2 butterfly's with no problems

I will test it out again tomorrow .

I don't think its air . installed brand new line 3/8 fittings for more air flow. runs at machine 110-120 psi drops to 80-90 and air is bone dry.

I think the problem is rusty metal. poor ground.

I am going to break out a better sheet to try. I wanted to make sure I could run the machine before I ordered metal.

if this problem is fixed I will be ordering new metal soon

Do you run a little water with youre fine cut? im dry right now. But I was thinking of PUTTING A half inch in the bottom to catch sparks and keep the water tray cool. is this a bad ideal?

THANKS
Al

[abmagrum]

HI, JIM

I SET it up like the picture I also installed 3/8 fittings and a 25 foot new 3/8 hose .

the pressure runs 110- 120 at the cutter . when its cutting it drops to 80 then shoots back up to 110-100

maybe I have something restricting in the filter?

at the time it didn't fire I watched the gauge the whole time except when it misfired and the psi was solid 100+ and solid 80. that's why I quit watching.

I had air flow problem before this that's why I updated the system.

I learned that from you I try to read all youre post to learn everything I can that way I don't have to ask for help.

hopefully today is not too hard at work and I can cut a couple things and let you know how it works.

I will watch everything very closely .

could it be from maybe tightening the torch tip to tight?

Thanks
AL

[abmagrum]

Hi

Here is the update

This is what I did, Loaded 6" butterfly . Hit run . Then ran over to air gauge on back of hypertherm.

Pressure started 120 dropped to 90 and 80 on the cuts.(went back up between cut lines)pressure ended at 100 psi compressor didn't kick on YET.

Then put in 9 inch perch . Hit run, Ran over to gauge. IT started at 100 then ran 80- 75 on the lines.

No miss fires. The cuts that are cut are Awesome. But a new problem

Some lines not cutting all the way through. I am thinking not enough air to push out slag. Is this correct?

Here is what I have set up a Devibiss pro 4000 60 gal. 5hp set at 140 psi. This has a 1/2 in black iron pipe. Going 30 feet across the room . 50 if you count up and down. This goes into a 20 or 30 gallon compressor tank. Which I hooked up a heavy duty pancake compressor. So I have 2 compressors running . then I have 3/8 line going to the airdry filter and then the hypertherm. So the pressure at the tank is like 130 by time it gets to the hypertherm its 110.

Should that be enough pressure? I think something might be restricted in the filter.

Oh Jim the cut height is a nickel + 2 pieces of paper if that helps

Hope this helps. I think im almost there.

Thanks everyone
Al