DON’T GET DINGED: Damaged plasma consumables can cause performance problems.
Hypertherm’s Technical Service Team often gets calls and emails from operators experiencing poor cut quality, leaking coolant, or torch arcing. Damaged consumables can be the cause of these issues and operators are surprised when they learn the damage was caused by the pliers or vice grips they used to remove the consumables from their torch.
Surface damage created by using the wrong tool for the job causes problems. A damaged electrode can arc out, potentially destroying it or worse, damaging the inside of the torch. The photo below shows an extreme case of surface damage. Though the nozzle orifice is still perfectly round, this nozzle needs to be replaced.
Don't grab for pliers or vice grips. Instead, use the consumable tool that came with your plasma system, part number: 104119. If you've misplaced your tool, no problem. You can order a new one from any authorized Hypertherm partner.
Next, learn how to properly install and remove plasma consumables with this tool.