- Joined
- Dec 18, 2019
- Messages
- 7,333
Maybe 15 years ago I bought a plasma cutter from HF. It worked ok, but wasn't that great. It cut the stuff I needed to cut at the time, so it was fine.
Recently dragged it off the shelf where it was collecting dust and tried to use it. Nope. No pilot arc. The SKU for anyone following along is 91814. The torch appears to be a Trafimet clone of the S45. I get sparks if I drag it along the table, but no plasma. I've tried replacing the consumables, including the nozzle, the electrode and the swirl ring. No difference. Adjusted the pressure up and down 15 psi from the recommended 65 psi. Removed the external moisture filter and just plugged the hose from my compressor directly to the regulator. No noticeable change. All appropriate idiot lights are lit. Overload light is not lit. The torch passes air for maybe 3-4 seconds and the tip is electrically hot for a few seconds.
I had the torch apart. Everything seems to be ok. About the only thing I can find is the spring loaded piston is a little stiff. Sometimes it sticks. But air does come out, because I can see dust being blown. On the other hand, I'm not positive it is coming out of the actual nozzle tip. Maybe the air is coming out these 4 tiny holes. It's not like I'm going to stick my finger in front of the nozzle!
Here is a figure from Trafimet how the plasma starts.
Could be electronic. Unfortunately, the HF supplied schematic is useless. None of the items (in the schematic) cross reference to the parts list.
This is a shot in the dark. Anyone have a clue as what to look for? It does use a big IGBT device. Can't find any evidence of a spark gap, like some older units have.
Recently dragged it off the shelf where it was collecting dust and tried to use it. Nope. No pilot arc. The SKU for anyone following along is 91814. The torch appears to be a Trafimet clone of the S45. I get sparks if I drag it along the table, but no plasma. I've tried replacing the consumables, including the nozzle, the electrode and the swirl ring. No difference. Adjusted the pressure up and down 15 psi from the recommended 65 psi. Removed the external moisture filter and just plugged the hose from my compressor directly to the regulator. No noticeable change. All appropriate idiot lights are lit. Overload light is not lit. The torch passes air for maybe 3-4 seconds and the tip is electrically hot for a few seconds.
I had the torch apart. Everything seems to be ok. About the only thing I can find is the spring loaded piston is a little stiff. Sometimes it sticks. But air does come out, because I can see dust being blown. On the other hand, I'm not positive it is coming out of the actual nozzle tip. Maybe the air is coming out these 4 tiny holes. It's not like I'm going to stick my finger in front of the nozzle!
Here is a figure from Trafimet how the plasma starts.
Could be electronic. Unfortunately, the HF supplied schematic is useless. None of the items (in the schematic) cross reference to the parts list.
This is a shot in the dark. Anyone have a clue as what to look for? It does use a big IGBT device. Can't find any evidence of a spark gap, like some older units have.
