256 instructions

I hooked the plasma part up but have no idea how to adjust pressure or amps. There is an amperage control but i dont know if it controls the plasma because it did not affect power of the arc. It cuts nicely but i feel if i can control the current i can do better.Is there a drag tip for this cutter? Also what about the air pressure? is it regulated by the argon regulator? Any better instructions? Looks to perform well and if i can get it fine tuned i bet it will do way better. Any links to beetter instructions. I mean is says in the instructions there are controls that are not there and i need this thing to work now.

Your water filter has a pressure regulator knob on top of it. You pull the top till it clicks (or push it in if it won't then pull it out again to make sure it is out) then twist it clockwise to increase the pressure or counterclockwise to decrease the pressure.

The argon regulator may NOT be used for air pressure regulation under any circumstances. Nor should argon be run through the water trap/ air pressure regulator! Keep them separate and change the line on the back of the unit back and forth for each process or hook up a shut off valve so you can keep both connected at the same time.

The main amp control controls the plasma when you have the process selection switch on cut/plasma. It will be reflected in your amp gauge up to 60 amps.

The arc power change is not a visible thing. You must cut with thick material to notice the difference. Even 20 amps can slice through thin gauge material easily.

As we have mentioned several times on this board, the unit can be used drag style up to 30 amps and under 3/8" steel. Over either one then you will use the wire standoff.

Basic operation of the old style and the new style is pretty much unchanged, especially for the plasma, so the old manual is pretty close. ALL of the controls in the old (226) unit are present in the new unit, maybe with slight name changes, but they function the same. The 256 actually has a couple more controls, but if you will read the 250 EX manual, it is nearly identical with the exception that the 256 doesn't have a spot weld timer.


Make sure you have the plasma torch in the negative side.