I was having trouble with the plasma cutter last night.
It worked intermittently. Then stopped. It was 90 through the cut so I switched to the bandsaw.
The pilot arc seemed asymmetrical like it is plugged, but it was late and hot so did not want to find the docs to see if it could be cleaned.
If the consumables are worn, just replace them.
I did notice a little bit of odd flashing/discoloration of the electrode when I last taught my safety class… I didn’t think anything of it, but that could have possibly been from the drag tip being worn down to far (possibly causing a bit of blow back), or possibly the nozzle assembly was not tightened down all the way.
IF the drag tip does not have open notches you destroy the nozzle and electrode. Tips go fast, electrodes last a long time if nozzle and drag tip are replaces when worn. Outside of poor grounds that is just about all the issues I have ever had with a hypertherm, they really are great machines…
