Troubleshooting for gas pressure problems

Incorrect gas pressure can cause errors that prevent cutting or that cause problems with cut quality and cut performance.

Install a pressure gauge

  • Install an inline pressure gauge at the gas inlet on the rear of the plasma power supply, after all external filtration.
  • Use this gauge to monitor the gas pressure during cutting and when the system is idle.
  • Make sure that the gas pressure is stable. The pressure reading on the gauge should be stable when you go from idle to cutting and when you go from cutting to idle again.

Monitor the inlet gas supply

  • For optimum system performance, make sure that the inlet gas pressure stays between 7.6 bar – 8.3 bar (110 psi – 120 psi) while gas is flowing.

    Never use more than the maximum gas pressure of 9.3 bar (135 psi).

Use a gas hose that is the correct size

  • Make sure that the gas hose is the correct size for your system:
    • Use an internal diameter of 10 mm (3/8 inch) or greater for gas hoses that are less than 15 m (50 feet).
    • Use an internal diameter of 13 mm (1/2 inch) or greater for gas hoses that are 15 m – 30 m (50 feet – 100 feet).

Adjust the pressure manually

  • The plasma power supply adjusts gas pressure automatically, but you can adjust the gas pressure manually if necessary. To adjust the gas pressure manually, push and hold the Mode button and turn the adjustment knob at the same time.
  • When testing is completed, push the Mode button again to go back to the automatic settings mode.

Do a gas test to find if the output gas pressure is too low

  • Do a gas test to see if the plasma power supply’s actual output gas pressure is lower than the set pressure by more than an acceptable quantity.

    The set pressure is the gas pressure that the system sets to align with the type of Hypertherm® cartridge and torch installed. Refer to Do a gas test.