Chinese Plasma Cutter Questions

[MrGiggles]

I bought a CT312 combo unit and it arrived today. The welding functions work well, but I haven't been able to get it to cut.

There is power at the end of the torch, and I have the ground lead in the right spot.

This is what the consumables on the torch look like.

Without the gas ring, it will arc but obviously not cut.

The gas ring is preventing the end of the electrode from making contact with the copper tip. Is that how it's supposed to be setup, or is there a parts mixup somewhere?

 

[MrGiggles]

I don't want to hurt any feelings here, but you didn't mention an air supply in your post....

Yes it is supplied with regulated air.

 

[Provincial]

Do you hear/feel air flow when you pull the trigger? How much? Too much or too little air will keep it from working.

Is your machine have a "pilot arc"? Many designs have the tip exposed and can short out to the work if allowed to touch. With a pilot arc, there may be an insulator to prevent this, since the arc will jump the gap. Your torch may or may not have such a feature.

Many times if the arc is struck without air, it will ruin the electrode and tip. Are you using new parts?

 

[MrGiggles]

Do you hear/feel air flow when you pull the trigger? How much? Too much or too little air will keep it from working.

Is your machine have a "pilot arc"? Many designs have the tip exposed and can short out to the work if allowed to touch. With a pilot arc, there may be an insulator to prevent this, since the arc will jump the gap. Your torch may or may not have such a feature.

Many times if the arc is struck without air, it will ruin the electrode and tip. Are you using new parts?

It is not a pilot arc machine.

I have the regulator set at 60 psi. Air is flowing just fine.

So is the the arc supposed to start inside the torch (between the electrode and tip) or should they touch each other?

Everything is new. The tip is exposed but is not energized because it does not contact the electrode. I'm not sure if its supposed to be that way, or something else is wrong.

 

[bczygan]

Time for YouTube videos!

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct312+plasma+cutter

Bill

 

[MrGiggles]

Time for YouTube videos!

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ct312+plasma+cutter

Bill

I watched this video and that cutter seems to use a longer electrode and tip (pictured in the ebay link below). I'm thinking that the short consumables that were included do not fit this torch and I need the longer style.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40Pc-Air-P...437571&hash=item1c82e35781:g:2YwAAOSwvKtY-Mbm

I'm going to stop by a local welding shop tomorrow and see if they carry anything that might fit or have any advice.

 

[Provincial]

It is starting to sound like a out-of-the-box failure. If the arc is supposed to jump from the center electrode to the inside of the tip (past the gas ring), then the gap is fixed. If the arc won't jump that far, something is wrong inside the machine.

Since you got an arc with the gas ring removed, it appears that there just isn't enough "spark" to jump the gap at the proper place.

Time to call the seller and/or importer.

 

[MrGiggles]

It is starting to sound like a out-of-the-box failure. If the arc is supposed to jump from the center electrode to the inside of the tip (past the gas ring), then the gap is fixed. If the arc won't jump that far, something is wrong inside the machine.

Since you got an arc with the gas ring removed, it appears that there just isn't enough "spark" to jump the gap at the proper place.

Time to call the seller and/or importer.

As strong as the arc welder is, I don't think there's anything wrong with the machine.

 

[MrGiggles]

I bought some tungsten today and tried the Tig torch, it strikes an arc and seems to work fine. It uses the same ports as the plasma so I don't think the problem is in the machine.

 

[bigdav160]

Are you sure it''s getting air out of the torch? I bought a chinese mig once and the gas port on the hose wasn't drilled.

 

[MrGiggles]

Are you sure it''s getting air out of the torch? I bought a chinese mig once and the gas port on the hose wasn't drilled.

Yes plenty of air is making it out of the nozzle.

 

[850xpeps]

Did you try touching the tip to the metal? Pilot arc can strike without but if I understand correctly if you don’t have pilot arc you need to touch the tip to whatever your cutting.