Erratic cut quality!

[CCR Custom Metals]

Hello! I am new to this forum but I am coming here for some help....hopefully.

I have been posting these issues on another thread (Owners Community by PlasmaCam) without any luck of finding a solution. My company (although just a small Etsy shop) has been down for over a month now....so please help! :-/

Here is what I have:

• ~ GoTorch Z-2 CNC
  ~ Hypertherm Powermax 30xp
  ~ DIY downdraft table
  ~ Harbor Freight air condenser
  ~ Craftsman 33 Gallon Air compressor (6.8S SCFM @ 40 psi & 5.1 SCFM @ 90 pi)

In the picture, you can see where the plasma starts to fail. I can hear it when it starts failing which is why I originally thought it was air quality...it was at this point where I decided to buy the Harbor Freight air condenser....didn't change a thing.

i have tried just about everything. have replaced all my hoses...thinking that maybe they were contaminated. I have added, removed, inspected filters constantly.

I keep changing out my consumables thinking that they are the problem, but honestly, I don't think that is the issue

I am sure that I am missing something, so feel free to ask.

Thanks in advance,
Chase

[acourtjester]

Looking at your image since the problem is not at the start but in a area where it has been cutting without problems.
You may have a material quality problem. There have been posts here with talking about this.
Also are you using a THC you may have a warping issue, It would help if you give more info about you conditions.
Speed, thickness of metal, amps, plasma unit, and consumables.

[mdwalker]

I bet this is going to turn out to be a height problem assuming you have good consumables. Probably from not having properly functioning automatic height control, material warpage, or material buildup on bottom of nozzle/shield.

[Nacs Fab]

What Torch Height Control do you use, if any? Also, you could just re-cut the outside of the part and have satisfactory results, to save the part. I do it occasionally when I have steel warpage in the middle of my sheet.

[jimcolt]

Almost guaranteed it is height related. Air quality will not do this.....if it did it would show as failed consumables. I would dare say the height is varying by + or - perhaps .015" to .020".....this is why we have height controls.

While the Powermax30XP was not specifically designed to run on a cnc machine (we do not make a machine torch, only a hand torch) I did personally test it on my Plasmacam 4 x 4 machine (with advanced height control). I found that the torch needs to run at about .020" off the material during steady state cutting, and should pierce only thinner than 1/4" with a pierce height of about .12". I got excellent cut quality using the height control and these specs.
Jim Colt Hypertherm

[kkroger]

I don't believe the little Go Torch has a THC even offered... it is a plasmacam tool so maybe, but it is a small machine last I knew.
But it does look like when the torch "Goes High" lots of splash back and not much cutting, What is the material you are cuttin (Steel) ? How Thick?
What current are you cutting at? 30 Amps? Cut Speed? Cut Height? I ran a PM30 for a year before I could reach my PM65 cost...

[jimcolt]

Yes...you can buy the GoTorch with any of the Plasmacam upgrades. Mine had Advanced Design Edge and Advanced Height Control......nice machine.

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[WyoGreen]

I'm surprised no one has asked what the air pressure is at the back of the plasma cutter while it is cutting?

[CCR Custom Metals]

Looking at your image since the problem is not at the start but in a area where it has been cutting without problems.
You may have a material quality problem. There have been posts here with talking about this.
Also are you using a THC you may have a warping issue, It would help if you give more info about you conditions.
Speed, thickness of metal, amps, plasma unit, and consumables.

I don't think it's a material problem. With that said, I do believe that height may be an issue since I don't have height control...but I just purchased Advanced height control from PlasmaCam! Waiting to try and use it tomorrow!

Hypertherm Powermax 30xp
Speed: 155
Metal: 14 GA
30 Amps...can't really go any lower than 30.
fine cut consumables

[CCR Custom Metals]

I'm surprised no one has asked what the air pressure is at the back of the plasma cutter while it is cutting?

Air pressure at the gauge that I installed at the back of the plasma stays between 95-100psi.