Hi Erik,
When you say consumable life is short, what are you using up?
More electrodes or nozzles?
Poor air quality generally uses up electrodes faster than nozzles.
Your refrigerated air dryer is to take the moisture out of the air.
If there is any oil, from the compressor, you will need an air/oil seperator or filter.
Oil will shorten electrode life drastically.
Using a cylinder of air will prove if that is your problem. Make sure your air lines are clean.
If you are going through more nozzles than electrodes then that will indicate a diffrent problem.
The service manual or a call to tech support will help you work through thoes problems.
Alan Bradford
www.plasmatechnologies.com