Cut50d

[kenwhite]

Mark the arc starts fine, it just won't hold -> it cycles on and off over and over again when the switch is closed and the torch is touching the metal. It will stay on at the minumum current setting, though it is blue in color, and will cycle very fast and is very bright yellow when at the highest current setting.

I have a set of ten electrodes and tips, and three swirl and shield cups, that came with it that I can try.

But it did kind of work initially, it would cut a piece or two of metal before the arc would become intermittent, and now it is totally intermittent.

The consumables I replaced look new but if you really think they are the issue, then please send me a new set of consumables and I can try them. However, I am having a hard time understanding why the consumables would allow the arc to start and then cause it to extinguish immediately after.

Do you guys want me to shoot a video of the operation?

[performance]

That would be fine. You can talk with someone in the office. I believe your unit is out of warranty so I nor anyone else can send you cons unless it is approved from there (and they will have to be shipped from there as well). The reason it would start is the HF is there to offer encouragement,and it may have enough time to establish the arc. However, the "yellow" you have just described also tells me there is an issue with the torch or consumables.

What kind of air dryer do you have on your unit?

[kenwhite]

That would be fine. You can talk with someone in the office. I believe your unit is out of warranty so I nor anyone else can send you cons unless it is approved from there (and they will have to be shipped from there as well). The reason it would start is the HF is there to offer encouragement,and it may have enough time to establish the arc. However, the "yellow" you have just described also tells me there is an issue with the torch or consumables.

What kind of air dryer do you have on your unit?

When I purchased my unit in January of 2009, it had a 5 year warranty I believe.

There are two, an industrial grade unit located at the compressor output and the one that comes with the unit.

Interesting that you mention bad product (torches and consumables) was shipped and that it is probably the issue with my Plasma and then tell me its not an Everlast issue that is covered under warranty...

Ken,
If I remember right, way back, when we had the PT 31 torches, we had some issues with some of the replacement, and stock consumables.

Ken,
I am taking it back to the consumable issue. Some of the suppliers we had made some goofs in the clearance on those torch consumables. After a while, a few would "wear" in and stop the sputtering....at least that has been my experience. Simply changing one from the same batch might not fix it. The only other possibility that would be a common issue, is the ground clamp has some resistance issues causing the unit to sputter in and out. The changes in the gapping making a difference suggest such a problem.

But you said initially it worked OK...What was the exact problem before we got you to putz with it? You never said.

My box has probably 15 total minutes of cutting time and is basically in brand new condition other than it doesn't work...

So far I'm not getting warm fuzzies...

[performance]

Ken,

Torches have only a 1 year warranty on them. There's not a OEM company out there selling welders that warranties them for more than that that I am aware of. Some give only a 6 month. You say when you bought your unit we had a 5 year warranty on the unit. We do not have a "hour" based warranty. There is no way we or you for that matter can verify that you have only 15 minutes. While I am sure you would not lie about it, there are those that might...so we offer a calender age time limited warranty. Its up to you to use the unit and put time on it when you get it and report any problems. When you first started this thread you made it seem like the unit was quite old. But I am sure we will work on the issue for you. IF it was the consumables that came with the torch, then it is likely that it is the problem, as they were given as part of a program at that time. Warm fuzzies or not, we are working on your problem and I am sure things will get resolved.

[kenwhite]

I am going to head down to the college and shoot a video. I am also going to measure the DC open circuit voltage at the copper straps and see what is there since it strikes an HF arc OK but will not cut with the DC plasma...

I thought a couple of years meant two, and I agree, I should have used it as soon as I received it, but like I said, I had some personal issues that forced me to put using it on hold.

I have all of the brand new consumables that came with it and have not ordered any others from Everlast. Can you tell me what model torch I have and what consumable part #'s I should be looking for?

Thanks,

Ken

[kenwhite]

I am glad I went to shoot a video of the arc and to take a few measurements, I found the problem. The big 5W leaded resistor that stands up on the lower front PCB had a cold solder joint. I noticed it moved side-side pretty freely when I went to double check the point gap distance. So I took the board out and fixed the resistor solder joint, plus a few more that looked suspect, and everything works great now.

I hope I didn't void my warranty...

[performance]

No,
It won't. Just glad you found it and got it resolved.

[Ray]

Oleg, see post #29 for his picture.
Yes, I think it is the LG75?

Ray