- Use electrode to full life: A fully used SilverLine® electrode will have a pit depth of 3.0 mm (.120"). This is deeper than the recommended pit depth for standard parts of 2.3 mm (.090").
- Properly tighten the nozzle retaining cap: Make sure the retaining cap is sealed tightly against the nozzle to prevent leaking.
- Purge torch: After each parts change, purge the torch for at least 30 seconds to remove residual moisture.
- Leak check: After purging the torch, make sure all o-ring seals are tight and there are no torch coolant leaks.
- Adjust plasma gas pressure: Plasma gas flow rate is critical. High flow will cause rapid electrode wear and hard starting. Low flow will cause uncontrolled arcing.
- Adjust shield gas pressure: Refer to the cut chart for optimum shield gas pressure. Having the correct start shield flow provides protection to the nozzle and shield during the piercing process.
- Pierce at correct height: Refer to the cut chart for optimum pierce (initial) height. Piercing too low causes molten metal (spatter) to hit the shield and nozzle – the most common cause of premature nozzle failure. Piercing too high can cause misfires and nozzle damage.
- Adjust arc voltage: As the consumables wear, the torch will get closer to the plate. To maintain optimum cutting height, increase arc voltage in 5-volt increments, up to 20 volts higher than the initial setting.
- Avoid arc stretching: This can occur during rip cutting off the plate or when the lead out is improperly programmed. This shortens consumable life.
- Clean the nozzle and shield: Periodically clean the nozzle and shield to remove spatter. This will prevent double arcing which shortens consumable life.