PP70-The learning curve. Including pics.

So, Lately I've been so busy that I haven't had time to do anything with all these new green boxes I have set up in my shop. FINALLY, that's all about to change. I decided to "freestyle" together a prototype for an engine stand for rebuilding Harley-Davidson motors. I'll explain. "Freestyle" means that you get out some pieces of material, your metalworking equipment, including markers, squares, clamps, tools. etc. Then the pieces that you want to go together, and just "figure it out". What I ended up with is a functioning prototype of what I'll ultimately end up with. But that's another thread. Here, I have some pics and commentary on the learning curve I'm going through with the PP70. I started out wanting to cut some 5/16" steel plate. At first, I figured this to be just "plug and play" and fought my way through. I ended up spending over an hour wondering WHY I couldn't get the machine to come out of pilot-arc mode. Finally I figured out that the ground clamp I had attached to the workpiece belonged to the 250EX:mad: and I was wasting my time. So then, proper ground clamp attached, I had torn up the consumables, having the air pressure maxed out and trying to fight my way through. Below is the result of the cut. Nice huh?

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/DSCF2677.jpg

I then put in new a new tip and electrode, properly set up for the cut with a guide edge for the torch, set the air pressure using the ball and tube gage supplied with the Trafimet A81 Torch, and set the amperage at 42 amps. Below is the result.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/DSCF2676.jpg

The slag at the edge of the cut came off with a few light taps on the corner. This cut could have been butted up and welded directly. Also, using the lower amperage setting resulted in almost no wear in the tip as shown below.

http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...1/DSCF2680.jpg

You will also notice that only half of my Guide wire remains. This is my own stupidity, as it got caught up in some red-hot slag and became part of the cut. Just sort of "fell off":D The things we learn..

Once this machiine is dialed in, and the operator is dialed in, All I can say is WOW!. Once you have it figured out, it makes you look for an excuse to use it.

That's pretty funny (wrong ground clamp,,,,DUH been there,, done that),,,,,using a plasma torch for the first time is like sex for the first time,,,,you think you know what you are doing,,,well maybe you do...lol,,,

That's why I always recomemd buying the big box of comsumables when you start off, a plasma tip can last a year or 10 seconds,,depends on who's operating.

Have fun enjoy,,they are a great tool once you get on to them.

I got to use mine today piercing some 1/2" holes in 3/8" for bolts. Love that thing! (and me too, on the been there done that with the ground...)

We've had the ground before. We were swapping out between my PowerArc 200 and our Power Plasma 50. Well some how we managed to grab the wrong clamp... haha... We actually cut 1/4" mild steel with just the pilot arc. :O Hmm, wonder if that is a recommended or safe practice? Well we wondered why the cut just wasn't very spicy, so we turned it up, nothing. Hmm, OHHHH, hey look this cable goes to a stick welder. Swapped out the grounds, "wha-la!"

Pretty nice cut Hooda, Try a little less amperage and feel around for the "sweet spot" air pressure. You will be able to make that cut (the good one ;)) with basically no slag. I'm talking little BB's the size of a #2 pencil lead sporadically, for a cut. I agree, once you get one, it begs to be used. I think our's pouts!

Even though the standoff is there, it usually has to be "adjusted" for proper height. It looks like it was too far off. You need less than 1/8".

With your experience with the PP unit how can you tell if the amps are set too high or low and the air set too high or too low. I know this could intail a long answer but if you could just make it a Readers Digest vergin I would appreciate it. Thanks Mickey

Everybody wonders about those settings it seems. I got some nice results piercing 3/8 hot rolled plate @45 amps yesterday, 65 psi. but I was just guessing.