Getting a Hypertherm(Air Setup)

[Jeeper75]

Hello everyone, within the next week I will be getting a Hypertherm Powermax 30 xp. My air compressor is not the biggest, only 15 gallon which is enough for the plasma cutting I will be doing for now, till I step up to bigger.

I am planing on hooking the compressor to 20 feet of 1/2 copper going on a sight downhill, then hooked to a coalescing filter of some sort, then a line going from there to a Motor guard filter hooked to the plasma. Will that be sufficient? Should I add a tee at the end of the copper line with a drop to catch water before the coalescing filter? Any input would be helpful. This will be a semi permanent setup, as I hope to move and get a better compressor later on. Here is a drawing to help get the picture. Thanks

 

[housedad]

You need to put in a couple of drains.

I have a diagram of my setup somewhere around the computer. Give me a few min to see if I can find it.

 

[Jeeper75]

Added a drain valve.

 

[housedad]

Good. At the lowest level before the filter. I can't seem to find my diagram.

Put the regulator after the coalescing filter.

In my system, I have a water separator first in line since the summer humidity can cause too much water for my trap to stop. The separator cuts out most of it. It is a Wilkerson wsa-04-fm0.

Next is a Wilkerson F18-04-sk00 particulate filter with a standard 5 micron filter element. This is to get the larger crud out and spin out most of the water the water separator missed.

Then there is a Wilkerson M18-04-BK00 coalescing filter that has a Oil removal element 5 micron. This gets out the last of the water and any oil.

I use this air for the plasma, my milling machine, for painting, and eveerything in the shop.

As they say, Water is the main killer for a plasma, and Hypertherms are no exception.

Use a auto drain valve is very nice.

Aw, Heck, I did find a drawing of it.

 

[housedad]

You should do fine with the setup you are talking about. Make sure your desiccating filter is replaced when it gets saturated. I would still add a small coalescing filter on the back of the plasma cutter in any case. Yes, even with the desiccating filter.

Well, here is my setup anyway.

View media item 58267

 

[Jeeper75]

Thanks for the pic.

 

[bcradio]

I'd just do a filter right before it goes in the plasma and call it good.

 

[Jeeper75]

Yea, a lot of people don't run anything, so something has to be better that nothing, but the more the better it seems to a point.