general question - have 550 Handy Plasma

[scott]

Hi All,
I am just about to complete a 4x4 one-off design machine. My machine will serve as a router and plasma cutter. I have a couple of questions to get started:

1. I own an esab 550 handy plasma, this plasma machine has to be touched to the material to start the arc, will this cause a problem for me when I go to use it on the cnc plasma table? (some plasma cutter advertise a pilot arc for cnc tables)

2. The esab has very expensive consumables, it uses a PT31 XL torch, can I change out the torch to something more reasonable cost for the consumables and that might work better for cnc operation?

Thanks for your time,


Scott Sutton

[torchhead]

Hi All,
I am just about to complete a 4x4 one-off design machine. My machine will serve as a router and plasma cutter. I have a couple of questions to get started:

1. I own an esab 550 handy plasma, this plasma machine has to be touched to the material to start the arc, will this cause a problem for me when I go to use it on the cnc plasma table? (some plasma cutter advertise a pilot arc for cnc tables)

2. The esab has very expensive consumables, it uses a PT31 XL torch, can I change out the torch to something more reasonable cost for the consumables and that might work better for cnc operation?

Thanks for your time,


Scott Sutton

Scott: While a couple of guys have been able to make a contact touch type plasma work with automated cutting it was not a easy venture. Our official response for our products is "we don't support setup and use with contact (needs to contact the material) type torches". We do support HF start, CD start and blow-back start type torches. I think it may be time for you to shop around for another plasma unit. ESAB makes some good units but most of them are HF/CD start that would start an arc virtually anywhere. We had to make modifications to our THC Sensor card to make them run with the ESAB 850 and 1500 units. The current version now will work with virtually any type plasma (except the manual contact type units)

TOM caudle

[scott]

Thanks Tom for the info,
I am obviously new to the whole plasma CNC world and need that kind of information if I am going to have success. In reading the manual for my machine, it states that "Touch the tip of the torch to the workpiece (or within0.020-in. of the workpiece)" I have never even used the plasma cutter handheld except to test it after repairing it. (it was given to me as non-repairable with a bad main board, all it needed was the full wave bridge rectifier and MOVs) Also, it does state in the manual that it is HF operation.

Does this qualify it for CNC operation? If I use torch height control can I set Mach3 to touch and then raise .02 and then start the arc and then move to the cutting height? I have not yet purchased a THC system for my machine.

I will probably be banned for asking this question, but are chinese inverter plasma cutters with pilot arc worth a hoot if my esab can't cut it?

Thanks again,
Scott

[elkriverfab]

I don't think you will be banned

I too have wondered how those imported plasma cutters would work with CNC tables.

I have thought they might be good for cutting plate under heavy production and keeping in the mind that they were cheep and easily replaceable. units.

It would be nice to have a cheep unit to bang on.

I am sure the quality is not there but if it cuts simple brackets out of lets say......1/4 inch or so.

I would stick with my hypertherm unit for detailed stuff.

If anyone knows if those harbor freight models would work, please pass it on.

I have not looked into it and I don't even know if they cause interference...........Just tossed it around while thinking.

Thanks.