Get the most out of your cartridges
- Gas supply quality
- It is extremely important to keep the gas supply line clean and dry.
- Oil, water, vapor, and other contamination in the gas supply can decrease cut quality and cartridge life.
- Refer to the Powermax125 Operator Manual (808080) for more information about gas filtration.
- Cutting technique
- Whenever possible, start cuts from the edge of the workpiece. This helps to extend the life of the cartridge. Refer to the Powermax125 Operator Manual (808080) for information about cutting techniques.
- Use the correct piercing method for the thickness of the workpiece that you are cutting. In many conditions, a rolling pierce method is an efficient way to pierce the workpiece while also decreasing the cartridge wear that naturally occurs during piercing. Refer to the Powermax125 Operator Manual (808080) for information about piercing techniques.
- Thickness of the workpiece being cut
- In general, the thicker the workpiece being cut, the more quickly the cartridges become worn. Do not cut material that is thicker than what is specified for this system and cartridge.
- Expanded metal cutting and pilot arc time
- Expanded metal has a slotted or mesh pattern. Cutting expanded metal wears out cartridges more quickly because it requires a continuous pilot arc. A pilot arc occurs when the torch is fired but the plasma arc is not in contact with the workpiece.
- Fire the torch only when necessary to keep pilot arc time to a minimum. Frequent pilot arcs cause the nozzle in the cartridge to wear more quickly.
- Arc stretch when cutting
- To get maximum cartridge life, only stretch the arc when it is necessary.
- Drag the hand torch on the workpiece whenever possible.