[plasmamatt]

Update:

In my last post I mentioned that we were having cut and arc quality issues whenever we would change out to a new electrode. This has been an ongoing problem. I recently discovered that cleaning up the flutes on the end of the electrode cures the problem. I mount each electrode in a lathe and gently file the top of the flutes and then I clean up each individual flute. This removes the burrs that are left behind from the manufacturing process. I have now successfully done this to about 5 electrodes and it works everytime. After about 1.5 years of problems with our TD A80 we finally have a system that works great.

Is anyone else experiencing any of these issues?

[Billy J.]

Talk about hitting a nail on the head, I have been having the same issue with my A80 also and have found that the tip is stuck to the starter cartridge as you mentioned,cause i have been having weak arc at start and wouldn't pierce the material. I will set up a tip in the lathe this weekend and see if that will resolve my issue. Me and a couple of other guys that run same type of plasma table have been having this issue and have been pulling our hair out trying to figure it out and maybe you have solved my problem. thanks for posting this.

[Mike 1948]

Update:

In my last post I mentioned that we were having cut and arc quality issues whenever we would change out to a new electrode. This has been an ongoing problem. I recently discovered that cleaning up the flutes on the end of the electrode cures the problem. I mount each electrode in a lathe and gently file the top of the flutes and then I clean up each individual flute. This removes the burrs that are left behind from the manufacturing process. I have now successfully done this to about 5 electrodes and it works everytime. After about 1.5 years of problems with our TD A80 we finally have a system that works great.

Is anyone else experiencing any of these issues?

I thought I would try cleaning up some not so old electrodes. I used my, what is called a "sanding mop", a fabric ball with 320 grit abrasive bound to it. I buffed up the electrodes removing the carbon and any burrs. Wow what a difference, the old electrodes cut better than the new. I'm going to give it a shot with some new ones when the next orders come in. The sanding mop removes "all" the burrs from machining. I wonder if these burrs aren't disruting the air flow, not allowing a efficient swirl to take place at the very end of the electrode

Thanks
Mike

[plasmamatt]

Hi Mike,

That is great to hear. I'm glad that you found that this procedure works too. The only reason I noticed this was because I had an old bag of electrodes and a new bag. The newer electrodes are very rough compared to the old ones. As you mentioned, I think that the rough edges of the burrs are causing too much turbulence and affecting the arc quality. My guess is that the air needs to stay fairly laminar to across the electrode.

Matt

[Orangejbird]

Do you think a wire wheel on the bench grinder will do the job? I see what you mean by the newer electrodes being so rough. Our old ones are much smoother along the flutes and look even better after using the wire wheel on them.
Mike, we should have the CNC harness by Friday, and I hope George and I do some cutting with the THC next week.

[Mike 1948]

Do you think a wire wheel on the bench grinder will do the job? I see what you mean by the newer electrodes being so rough. Our old ones are much smoother along the flutes and look even better after using the wire wheel on them.
Mike, we should have the CNC harness by Friday, and I hope George and I do some cutting with the THC next week.

It should work as long as you are gentle. Just enough pressure to smooth out the burrs. I think a little work with some steel wool might work also.
Let me know how the THC works(or not).

Mike