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I have the 40 amp northern tools plasma and have had this problem since I bought it last year. Basically, If i hold the torch straight up, the arc will come out sideways and make a side ways cut. I would guesstimate that its close to 30 degrees off. Nothing looks off and it does it with fresh nozzles and electrodes. Im tired of messing with and am completely stumped. I'll post pictures of what ever anyone needs to see.
so saying the tip is pointing perfectly straight down and the arc comes out in a slant
exactly. to get a straight cut, I have to hold the torch as if i'm cutting a bevel.
Attachment 6237sounds like you have a torch head problem . also inside the head there is a little brown plastic looking ring is it there were you consumables parts are it called a diffuser
I ordered some new consumables for it. I got some new tips, electrodes, and a new outer nozzle. I'm going to get a new swirl ring too if it's still cutting crooked. If all that fail, then i will be officially cornfuzzled.
My PU205P just started cutting like that at an angle but the tip has a slot rather than a hole due to molten metal blowback when piercing thick metal. Replacing my tip cured the problem in my case. I have also started using a wire standoff. It increases tip life tremendously.
Thurmond
In my case, even the new tips would cut at an angle. I'm hoping that my consumables will be here tomm and I can try and figure it out. I have a crap load of cutting to do with 3/16 plate steel and I dont feel like having to use a cutting torch.
I wonder if there is some small trash in your swirl ring holes?
Thurmond
if its cutting crooked it since the air coming out is not a straight vortex , big cause of cutting not straight is consumables , moisture in air and blockage in the orifice holes in torch head . take the consumable off end of torch and blow compressed air backward threw torch wrap the opposite end with a white piece of cloth to see if any thing comes out of torch in the rag . could have a small peace of packing foam or something in torch hose , Attachment 6296i run a filter on my plasma cutter even rust partials from air plumbing steel pipes can mess up a plasma cutter and paint spraying , That one reason i use [cv for my shop so less moisture and no rust problems.
It cuts straight!!! :) I cleaned out the swirl ring and made sure it was on right along with a new outer cup, nozzle, and electrode. I bought some drag tips to try out and I definitely like them better than the regular tips. the only down side it its harder to bevel a piece of plate. the only time i liked the crooked cut is when I had a bevel to cut because it did it for me.:P The drag tip isn't a true drag tip because it's not insulated.
just take a couple of strips of metal and tack them together at a 45 degree angle that's what i use to do a nice straight slant cut . i clamp it down with vice grips and lay torch head against slant and use as a guide when cutting sheet steel at a 45 angle . think of buying the circle kit since have some large metal letters i have to do for a sign for a customer http://www.ebay.com/itm/S25-30-S45-T...item27bc434f34