Product Manual

12
BUILT TO GET THE JOB DONE
● Air pressure and volume
Air pressure, ow rate and air quality are critical to quality plasma cutting and consumable life span.
The required air pressure and volume can vary from model to model and the manufacturer will provide the specs. The Shop Iron plasma
cutting machine air pressure is
requires a minimum of 6CFM and The volume capacity of your compressor is
important, if you have a small compressor with exactly the same rating as the plasma, then the compressor will run continuously when you
are plasma cutting, a compressor with a l/min rating slightly higher than the plasma would be more adequate. If you are doing a lot of
cutting, cutting thick plate (same air consumption but slower cut speeds = longer cut time) then choose a compressor at 1.5 to 2 times the
plasma system requirement.
● Technique Tips
● Starting a cut
● Hand torch cutting technique
Good air quality is essential to quality plasma cutting and consumable life span.
Compressors take in air at atmospheric pressure and increase the pressure and store it in a tank. Humidity in the air is condensed in the tank
and in the airlines producing water, more so in humid environments. Moisture that forms in air lines has a tendency to condense into larger
drops when the air pressure decreases as it is entering the plasma torch. When these droplets enter into the high temperatures (as much as
19832°f) in the plenum of the torch, they immediately break down into oxygen and hydrogen, which alters the normal chemical content of
air in the torch. These elements will then dramatically change the plasma arc which causes the torch consumable parts to wear very quickly,
alters the shape of the nozzle orice, dramatically aecting cut quality in terms of edge squareness, dross formation, and edge smoothness.
Minimising the moisture in the air supply is absolutely critical to quality plasma cuts and longevity of consumable parts. As a minimum be
sure to drain the receiver (tank) on the air compressor at least daily. Most air plasma systems from reputable manufacturers have an on
board particulate lter and or a coalescing lter with an auto drain that will remove some moisture from the air supply. For home workshop
and light industrial users the on board air lter is adequate. Most situations however will require additional ltration to prevent moisture
from aecting the quality of the plasma cutter and in most cases it is recommended to install a sub micronic particulate lter that is
designed to trap water through absorption. This style of lter has a replaceable lter cartridge that absorbs water and must be changed
after it is near saturation, it should be installed close as possible to the air intake of the plasma cutter.
• It is easier to pull the torch through the cut than to push it.
• To cut thin material reduce the amperage until you get the best quality cut.
•
• For Straight cuts use a straight edge or cutting buggy as a guide. For circles,
use a template or circle cutting attachment.
• Check that the front end consumable parts of the plasma cutting torch
are in good condition.
Sub Micronic Filter example Filter Element example
Hold the torch vertical at the edge of the work
piece
Pull the trigger to start the pilot arc.
The cutting arc will initiate when the torch tip
is close enough to the work piece. Start cutting
on the edge until the arc has cut completely
through.
Then, proceed with the cut.
When cutting make sure that sparks are exiting
from the bottom of the work piece.
If sparks are spraying up from the work piece,
you are moving the torch too fast, or you don't
have enough amps set.
Hold the torch vertical and watch the arc as it
cuts along the line.
Note: The dryer the air, the longer your consumable life!!