O.T. Plasma cutter

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S

Steve Taylor

Guest
Apologies if this appears as a repost.

I have just this very afternoon acquired a SIP "Plasma 25" plasma
cutter, complete in every way, apart from the operating instructions.
Does anyone else here perchance have one, who can tell me how to make it
strike ? I have juice and compressed air at the requisite pressures, the
OK led is lit, air comes out when the trigger is pressed, but otherwise
bugger all else is happening.

Or do I have to cool my heels till Monday ?

Steve
 
Peter Seddon wrote:
> The one I saw working needed a very good contact with the metal being cut,
> this was achieved by grinding away any paint and using the touch like a
> hammer with the trigger pulled. It then struck and kept going.
>
> Peter.

Thanks for that Peter. I think this one is supposed to have a pilot arc
start - but I don't see one.

I don't even know if the torch is assembled correctly yet !

Steve
 
The one I saw working needed a very good contact with the metal being cut,
this was achieved by grinding away any paint and using the touch like a
hammer with the trigger pulled. It then struck and kept going.

Peter.

"Steve Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Apologies if this appears as a repost.
>
> I have just this very afternoon acquired a SIP "Plasma 25" plasma
> cutter, complete in every way, apart from the operating instructions.
> Does anyone else here perchance have one, who can tell me how to make it
> strike ? I have juice and compressed air at the requisite pressures, the
> OK led is lit, air comes out when the trigger is pressed, but otherwise
> bugger all else is happening.
>
> Or do I have to cool my heels till Monday ?
>
> Steve


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On or around Wed, 11 Aug 2004 18:34:50 +0100, Steve Taylor
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>Steve Taylor wrote:
>
>> What a tool. Worth every penny. Make sure you have a fat power circuit
>> though.
>
>Ah but....
>Beware.
>
>The model I have, the 25 SHOULD have a pilot arc start - this unit
>doesn't- its got a bump start, therefore its been built
>wrong.....copious apologies from SIP, and NEW cutter coming on Friday....
>
>and its also very clever, its capacity is 5mm or 1/4" - so if you cut
>imperial sizes, you get 27% more capacity. How it can tell I don't
>know... :)


coo.

'ere, anyone know anything about welding titanium? I assume it means TIG
and considerable skill/practice...

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"The great masses of the people ... will more easily fall victims to
a great lie than to a small one" Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
from Mein Kampf, Ch 10
 
I got a 25 amp plasma cutter a couple of years ago from machine mart and in
their catalogue it said it had a pilot arc but after buying it found out
only the bigger models have that and the 25 amp ones all have press start
but it is a great bit of kit you buy an 8x4 sheet of ally how do you cut it
up oh yes you use a plasma cutter and you are away what shape do you want ok
there you go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should have got one many years ago, also great for chassis cutting those
outriggers off cutting out rust holes in the chassis etc the list is endless
Rich ( mig and plasma cutter what else do you need!!!!!!!!!!!!!! )


<snip>
> The model I have, the 25 SHOULD have a pilot arc start - this unit
> doesn't- its got a bump start, therefore its been built
> wrong.....copious apologies from SIP, and NEW cutter coming on Friday....
>
> and its also very clever, its capacity is 5mm or 1/4" - so if you cut
> imperial sizes, you get 27% more capacity. How it can tell I don't
> know... :)
>
> Steve


 
Point your browser to
http://www.sip-group.com/PAGES/800x600 PAGES/pdf/Plasma 25-30-50.pdf it
says that its a contact ignition device.

Peter

"Steve Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Peter Seddon wrote:
> > The one I saw working needed a very good contact with the metal being
cut,
> > this was achieved by grinding away any paint and using the touch like a
> > hammer with the trigger pulled. It then struck and kept going.
> >
> > Peter.
>
> Thanks for that Peter. I think this one is supposed to have a pilot arc
> start - but I don't see one.
>
> I don't even know if the torch is assembled correctly yet !
>
> Steve


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Rich wrote:
> I got a 25 amp plasma cutter a couple of years ago from machine mart and in
> their catalogue it said it had a pilot arc but after buying it found out
> only the bigger models have that and the 25 amp ones all have press start
> but it is a great bit of kit you buy an 8x4 sheet of ally how do you cut it
> up oh yes you use a plasma cutter and you are away what shape do you want ok
> there you go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks like that is what they are trying to pass off on me, except I have
all the product literature, and a manual that says that this is a pilot
arc start too. The "new" cutter they sent this afternoon is the same old
crap as the first one.

'K' Steels, our suppliers, are dragging the SIP rep to see me on Monday,
at my premises, where we expect to see the pilot arc we have paid for
demonstrated. 'K's are extremely ****ed off with this, since it was on a
special promotion offer. I'll let you know what happens......

Steve
 
On Fri, 13 Aug 2004 20:19:04 +0100, Steve Taylor
<[email protected]> wrote:

>'K' Steels, our suppliers, are dragging the SIP rep to see me on Monday,
>at my premises, where we expect to see the pilot arc we have paid for
>demonstrated. 'K's are extremely ****ed off with this, since it was on a
>special promotion offer. I'll let you know what happens......

Good luck... :)

As a complete aside (bearing in mind previous postings I've actually
got around to reading...) a quickie question;

or two...

1. What Plasma cutter could I realistically expect to work on a
domestic (13A plug socket) supply?

2. How easy is it to cut a dead straight line using a plasma cutter?

3. What quality of cut could I expect on 2mm and 4mm ally sheet
(like, better than a very good jigsaw cut?)

4. How much would I pay for 1. (above) that'll give me 2. (above)
with a good finish as in 3. (above).

ok... 4 questions... :)


--
Some Land Roveresque (101 biased), links available
from: http://links.solis.co.uk/Geek/X4_Land_Rover/
I also have a little Land Rover site biased toward
my beloved 101 "Grumble", at: http://www.101fc.net


Reading this in 'alt.fan.landrover'? Did you know
there's a group FAQ: http://www.aflfaq.dyndns.info
 
Mother wrote:

>
> 1. What Plasma cutter could I realistically expect to work on a
> domestic (13A plug socket) supply?

A domestic ring main is rated for 30 A, so if you are happy to put a
bigger 240V connector somewhere you can run my 25A cutter on your
supply. On a 13 A plug ? Forget it.

You also need a good air supply too.

> 2. How easy is it to cut a dead straight line using a plasma cutter?
>
Very easy - the torch is guided down a convenient piece of angle, even
around a wooden template !

> 3. What quality of cut could I expect on 2mm and 4mm ally sheet
> (like, better than a very good jigsaw cut?)

Dunno. Not tried ally. Need a.) more practice and b.) the proper bloody
cutter. A plasma cut will have a flare of between 5 and 10 degrees, but
will be less than 1mm wide. And its very, very fast. Please forward 10
off 8' x 4' chequer plate for experimental purposes ;-)

I'd always fettle a cut edge by any process. A millenicut file will make
short work of ally ( and your finger tips)

> 4. How much would I pay for 1. (above) that'll give me 2. (above)
> with a good finish as in 3. (above).

Around 450 quid inc VAT. Probably.

I'm looking for little projects to burn. They'll finance a nice AC TIG set.

Steve


 
Mother wrote:


> 1. What Plasma cutter could I realistically expect to work on a
> domestic (13A plug socket) supply?

None - you'd be wanting to run a dedicated circuit from the fuseboard
for it (30 amps).

>
> 2. How easy is it to cut a dead straight line using a plasma cutter?

Can you use a straight-edge? It's easy to follow any shaped template
with a plasma cutter.

>
> 3. What quality of cut could I expect on 2mm and 4mm ally sheet
> (like, better than a very good jigsaw cut?)

The cut with a plasma cutter is much like a very good gas cut in steel
(ie: using a clean, correct sized tip, done by someone who has had a lot
of practise) although you only lose about 1mm of metal.

>
> 4. How much would I pay for 1. (above) that'll give me 2. (above)
> with a good finish as in 3. (above).

Dunno about UK prices, but also factor in a decent compressor with a
good water trap as you'll need a reasonable supply of clean air. I paid
the equivalent of 600 quid for mine secondhand, but it will cut to
19mm in steel.


--
EMB
change two to number to reply
 
In article <[email protected]>, Badger
<[email protected]> writes
>Had this once with my Miller plasma cutter, turned out the problem was damp
>air from the compressor. Fitted a small continuous-bleed type water
>separator to the side of the plasma and never had any problems since. They
>are really, really, really susceptible to dampness in the airstream due to
>the high frequency arcing.

It is _very_ humid ATM...


Regards,

Simonm.

--
simonm|at|muircom|dot|demon|.|c|oh|dot|u|kay
SIMON MUIR, UK INDEPENDENCE PARTY, BRISTOL www.ukip.org
EUROPEANS AGAINST THE EU www.members.aol.com/eurofaq
GT250A'76 R80/RT'86 110CSW TD'88 www.kc3ltd.co.uk/profile/eurofollie/
 
M0bcg wrote:
> first thing, you have to have the earth lead connected to the workpiece .
Yup.
> or it will be a torch that starts an arc when the trigger is pressed but unless it is held
> above the metal to be cut in the correct position the arc will go out after a
> couple of seconds if you dont have the torch in correct position and start
> cutting .
>

This is what I thought I had, when it said "pilot arc".


> i presume you know you need a compressor to run the plasma cutter , with the
> correct pressure set , unless its one of the lateast plasma cutters with an
> internal compressor fitted .

Yup, and it eats air at 210 lpm/5 bar. There is a pressure switch that
warns of underpressure.
>


> depending on the type of cutting torch head fitted you will have to make sure
> the shroud ,electrode and nozzle are in place properly but i dont think those
> plasma cutters need any setting up much .
>

Thanks for the tips. I'm going to nip back to work to have a play.

Steve
 
<snip>

> 1. What Plasma cutter could I realistically expect to work on a
> domestic (13A plug socket) supply?

You can get high frequency ones which run off a standard 13A socket outlet
will cut to about 6mm thick

The cheap ones like I got from machine mart which is called a 25 means it
uses 25 amps when running from the supply, use a propper circuit you can
burnout the sockets ive done it !!!!!!!!!!



> 2. How easy is it to cut a dead straight line using a plasma cutter?

no problem at all just run it along a piece of wood only as good as the
opperator use a guide if you think you can cut a straight line free hand you
cant its impossible !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
> 3. What quality of cut could I expect on 2mm and 4mm ally sheet
> (like, better than a very good jigsaw cut?)

I have done this and you get no distortion at all and a very clean cut and
quick as well


> 4. How much would I pay for 1. (above) that'll give me 2. (above)
> with a good finish as in 3. (above).

I think a high frequency one is quite dear £500 ish the one I have seen is
made by Telwin I think or something like that small compact unit but have a
good compressor they DO USE lots of air !!!!!!!!!!


> ok... 4 questions... :)
>
>
> --
> Some Land Roveresque (101 biased), links available
> from: http://links.solis.co.uk/Geek/X4_Land_Rover/
> I also have a little Land Rover site biased toward
> my beloved 101 "Grumble", at: http://www.101fc.net
>
>
> Reading this in 'alt.fan.landrover'? Did you know
> there's a group FAQ: http://www.aflfaq.dyndns.info


 
On or around Fri, 13 Aug 2004 23:42:00 +0100, Steve Taylor
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>A domestic ring main is rated for 30 A, so if you are happy to put a
>bigger 240V connector somewhere you can run my 25A cutter on your
>supply. On a 13 A plug ? Forget it.

hang on, is that 25A input?

if so, you could run it on yer domestic ring main stylee thing by fitting 2
plugs.

My old stick welder (the one that's jammed on full output) used to eat 13A
fuses when used for any noticeable amount of welding. Providing it with 2
lengths of 1.5mm² flex and 2 plugs solved the problem. You have to be a bit
careful about what you plug it into, and you also have to be very careful
not to plug just one plug in - the other will of course be live.

but it works.

alternatively, fit a blue industrial socket in yer garage.

Must look into the plasma cutter thing, it'd come in handy here too.

how precisely can it be controlled?

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
"Pereant qui ante nos nostra dixerunt"
(confound the men who have made our remarks before us.)
Aelius Donatus (4th Cent.) [St. Jerome, Commentary on Ecclesiastes]
 
On or around Fri, 13 Aug 2004 23:23:26 +0100, Mother <"@ {mother}
@"@101fc.net> enlightened us thusly:

>4. How much would I pay for 1. (above) that'll give me 2. (above)
>with a good finish as in 3. (above).
>
>ok... 4 questions... :)

buggered if I know if it's any good, but just found this one:

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl/c.317638/sc.9/it.A/id.8420/.f

which has its own compressor.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
Appearances: You don't really need make-up. Celebrate your authentic
face by frightening people in the street.
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.
 
On or around Sat, 14 Aug 2004 14:23:27 +0100, Denis F
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>On Sat, 14 Aug 2004 09:20:48 +0100, in
><[email protected]>, Austin Shackles
><[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl/c.317638/sc.9/it.A/id.8420/.f
>
><faints after reading price>

well, I wasn't about to run an buy one. However, if you factor in the cost
of a big enough compressor, it doesn't look so silly.

however, I reckon I'll get an oxy cutting torch instead.

--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
Too Busy: Your mind is like a motorway. Sometimes it can be jammed by
too much traffic. Avoid the jams by never using your mind on a
Bank Holiday weekend.
from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.
 
Austin Shackles wrote:

>
> well, I wasn't about to run an buy one. However, if you factor in the cost
> of a big enough compressor, it doesn't look so silly.

Do you reckon ? It can't have THAT big a compressor in it.

Steve
 
my plasma king 25 from machine mart requires about 5 bar constant pressure
the compressor I have is a 3HP 14 CFM 240 volt 150 psi max, and it works
fine for all my air tools but if you have long air lines i.e. more than
about 10 mtrs you must increase the internal dia size of hose to maintain
cfm. You really don't need a compressor any smaller than this in my opinion
it works fine for me and I use angle sanders and da sanders and they can be
run as long as I need to and the compressor can cope with it.
A oxy cutting torch is all very well but how do you cut ally with it to
patch up your landy or cut out a bit of corroded panel !!!! ( a plasma
cutter )
As for the question about the material having to be clean this is not true I
have used mine on all manner of rusty and undersealed chassis and once you
get it going it just burns away any paint etc and off you go
Rich


<snip>
> well, I wasn't about to run an buy one. However, if you factor in the
cost
> of a big enough compressor, it doesn't look so silly.
>
> however, I reckon I'll get an oxy cutting torch instead.
>
> --
> Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.fsnet.co.uk my opinions are just that
> Too Busy: Your mind is like a motorway. Sometimes it can be jammed by
> too much traffic. Avoid the jams by never using your mind on a
> Bank Holiday weekend.
> from the Little Book of Complete B***ocks by Alistair Beaton.


 
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