Damaged plasma cutters cause costly delays in production and expensive downtime. A low-cost CNC plasma table is essential for metal fabrication industries and industrial construction operations. Regular plasma cutter maintenance prevents production interruptions and plasma arc malfunctions.
Before purchasing a new plasma cutter, consider developing a proper maintenance schedule for your current machine. Many dysfunctional plasma cutters require new parts, deep cleaning, and professional repair.
Read on to learn the most effective plasma cutter maintenance tips.
How to Maintain Your Plasma Cutter
Damaged plasma cutters cause burnt torches, low-quality incisions, and insufficient coolant flow. Consult plasma cutter specialists for all machine repairs and always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for achieving gas pressure and coolant requirements.
Follow these tips to best maintain your plasma cutter’s function.
Create a Safe Work Zone
Plasma cutters contain many parts, including electrodes, swirl rings, and torch bodies. Avoid repairing plasma cutters during peak production hours and clear a sizeable space around the plasma cutter before performing maintenance. Small consumables quickly get lost or misplaced if not handled correctly.
Always disconnect the power supplied to the plasma cutter before performing maintenance. Remove any flammable debris from your work area to reduce the risk of injuries and fire. High electric voltages and infrared lights of plasma cutters pose serious safety risks.
Cleaning and Plasma Cutter Maintenance
Well-seasoned plasma cutters develop dirty torch threads, snuffed arcs, and overused electrodes. Thoroughly inspect all plasma cutter components to ensure your machines’ proper function.
Consider these best practices for plasma cutter maintenance:
Gas Pressure
Both manual and autogas systems require specific inlet gas pressures to perform optimally. For autogas systems, run the “Test Preflow” and “Test Cutflow” functions to confirm the proper gas pressure of 115 PSI. Refer to the plasma cutter manual for help adjusting manual gas systems.
Clean Components
Well-cleaned plasma cutters last for 20 years or longer. Create daily cleaning routines to ensure precise cutting of various material thicknesses and fewer workspace interruptions.
The parts of your plasma cutter requiring regular cleaning include:
- Torch body
- Power supply
- Torch leads
- Main contractor
- Nozzles
- Air filters
Replace all black or dirty air filters and inspect your air filters for signs of bacteria growth, dirt, oil, and water. Uncleaned air filters allow damaging debris to reduce the life of consumables and deteriorate torches.
Always inspect the water and gas quality of your plasma cutter. Hard water creates dangerous mineral build-up on nozzles, while poor gas quality inevitably leads to shorter consumable life and imprecise cutting. Contact local plasma cutter specialists for help thoroughly cleaning your plasma cutters.
Trust Cyrious Metal Works for All Your Plasma Cutter Maintenance Needs
Cyrious Metal Works proudly serves the Whitewright, TX community. Our staff has worked diligently to keep our customers’ plasma cutters functioning for many years. We offer a variety of state-of-the-art CNC plasma tables and provide flexible financing options.
Contact our friendly staff today to learn more about our services and how to use a plasma cutter. Call Cyrious Metal Works at (903) 771-2462 to receive your free quote today.