Do a gas leak test

Do an automated gas leak test on the Computer Numerical Control (CNC) screen or XPR® web interface if you suspect a cutting system gas leak.

Warning

HYDROGEN GAS CAN CAUSE AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE

Hydrogen is a flammable gas that can cause an explosion or fire if it is not removed.

Keep flames away from cylinders and hoses that contain hydrogen. Keep flames and sparks away from the torch when using hydrogen as a plasma gas.

Consult your local safety, fire, and building code requirements for the storage and use of hydrogen.

Hypertherm recommends that you install an exhaust ventilation system to remove the hydrogen-enriched atmosphere that can collect when hydrogen is used as the plasma gas for cutting.

Flashback arrestors are REQUIRED to stop the spread of fire to the supply gases (unless a flashback arrestor is not available for a specific gas or pressure).

As an installer or user, you must supply the exhaust ventilation and flashback arrestors for your cutting system. You can get them from your cutting machine supplier.

Warning

OXYGEN GAS CAN CAUSE A FIRE HAZARD

If you use oxygen as the plasma gas for cutting, it can cause a potential fire hazard due to the oxygen-enriched atmosphere that collects. A fire can occur if oxygen is not removed.

Hypertherm recommends that you install an exhaust ventilation system to remove the oxygen-enriched atmosphere that can collect when oxygen is used as the plasma gas for cutting.

Flashback arrestors are REQUIRED to stop the spread of fire to the supply gases (unless a flashback arrestor is not available for a specific gas or pressure).

As an installer or user, you must supply the exhaust ventilation and flashback arrestors for your cutting system. You can get them from your cutting machine supplier.

For the XPR170® and XPR300®, with version U (or later) of the XPR firmware, you can do a gas leak test with all gas connect consoles, including Core™ and CorePlus™. With a firmware version before revision U, you can do gas leak tests only with VWI™ and OptiMix™ consoles.
For the XPR460®, you can do a gas leak test with all gas connect consoles, including Core and CorePlus.

Use the CNC screen or XPR web interface to select the command to do an automated gas leak test.

The error log shows the test results.

The instruction manual that came with your CNC has information to help you do this step.
Refer to the error log for information about how to find or troubleshoot a possible gas leak.

Gas leak tests in the XPR web interface

When you select GAS LEAK TEST in the XPR web interface:

The GAS LEAK TEST button is highlighted with red to show that it is active, and the test has started.
The active valves are identified with colored highlights.
The gases shown on Line A, Line B, and shield are different for different process IDs. You can do a gas leak test for Line A (black) and for Line B (yellow) but not for the shield gas line (blue).
The gases flow until you select the same button or select a different button that interrupts the test.

This image shows the GAS LEAK TEST button in an example web interface screen. — Figure 1. GAS LEAK TEST in the XPR web interface

After you complete a gas leak test in the XPR web interface, select the LOG button to see the result of the test.
The Log screen shows if the test was successful.
For a test that was not successful, look for information on the Log screen that identifies the point of failure.
Use the information from the Log screen and the wiring diagrams for your system to find the location of the gas leak.