okay so my plasma cutter decided to not work, when I hit the trigger all i hear is a clicking noise from the machine but no spark is comming out of it, whats wrong here?

but if I take out a little white plastic piece inside the plasma torch then it sparks right up when i hit the trigger, but it seems to burn the tip really fast.
need help, I will get some picture of the machine soon as I get my camera.
thanks

 

Are you talking about the Swirl Ring? Is it cracked, clogged, or O-rings messed up?

 

okay here are the pictures of what im talking about

the machine



the plasma torch


this is how its set-up inside when you take he white cap off, it does not work like this



But if I set it up like this without the little white piece in between the electrode and tip, it'll work



but setting it up without the little white piece is the incorrect way and it burns the tip fairly fast.

any ideas??

 

anyone?

 

try putting new tips on it?

 

yes i have, i try 3 different tips and electrodes.

 

I will show this to my father. He repairs welders and plasma cutters for a living. He may have some insight for you.
but it seems like you are losing continuity with your consumables.

 

thank man really appreciate it!

 

he said that so called white piece allows the air flow to the tip. and you could have over tighten the outer shield and he said the air pressure might not be correct , even tho you might have been using it before. Every machine can require different air pressure.

What brand is that machine?

 

yeah that white piece is to control the air,
yeah maybe i might have over tighten it.
it's suppose to work with 60psi and I tryed that it wont work

it's an off brand call Accurate tools 3 in 1 plasma cutter, arc welder, and tig welder.

ask your dad if the plasma doesnt work like this, will the tig still work? you can see in the picture above the tig and plasma uses the same plug on the machine. I dont have the tig cable and hose yet and I need to buy one but I wanna make sure it'll work before I spend more money on it.

 

That type of plasma cutter uses a high frequency starter to start the arc. Its possible the high frequency starter circuit is on its way out. When the white swirl ring is in place maybe its causing the nozzle to be spaced further away from the electrode and the starter circuit doesn't have enough power to start the arc. Just a thought.

 

^Does it have a scratch start setting?

 

yeah that sounds like it might be, do u know where that high frequency starter circuit is located?

I know most people say that the plasma wont have an arc until the require air psi is reach, but i remember with this machine it'll start the arc without even using any air, so it could be what your saying.

 

When you switch it over to TIG its probably scratch start. Scrach starting plasma is not possible since the electrode is behind the nozzle, not to mention it would probably destroy the electrode. As far as where that circuit is, I have no idea. I've worked on Hypertherm and Thermal Dynamics machines but they are much different. I would try to get a hold of whoever sold it to you or the manufacture but since that machine is chinese made good luck getting it repaired/replaced.

 

what do you mean by scratch start?

 

Scratch Start is when you actually touch the tip to the work-piece only for a second to make it arc ( like when you are Stick Welding) and keep it close enough to keep the arc going. Plasma cutting and most Mig welding Do NOT use that method to start.