--- description: As a qualified plasma cutter operator, you need to have a good habit to maintain your plasma cutting machine regularly, which will extend the service life. title: How to Maintain Your Plasma Cutter? image: https://www.stylecnc.com/uploads/allimg/200509/1-20050ZZK50-L.jpg --- # [How to Maintain Your Plasma Cutter?](https://www.stylecnc.com/blog/plasma-cutter-maintenance.html "How to Maintain Your Plasma Cutter?") Last Updated: 2022-05-12 By [Charles](https://www.stylecnc.com/author/charles "Charles")4 Min Read ## How to Maintain Your Plasma Cutter? As a qualified plasma cutter operator, you need to have a good habit to maintain your plasma cutting machine regularly, which will extend the service life of the machine. ![How to Maintain Your Plasma Cutter?]() ### How to Maintain Your Plasma Cutter? 1\. Ensure the Correct Pressure and Flow. The correct pressure and flow of the plasma is important to the life of the consumable. If the air pressure is too high, the life of the electrode will be greatly reduced; if the air pressure is too low, the life of the nozzle will be affected. Refer to the instruction manual of the plasma cutter when setting. 2\. Use a Reasonable Tangent. The tangent distance is the distance between the cutting nozzle and the surface of the workpiece. This distance should be kept as constant as possible, usually about 3-8mm. The life is reduced; if it is too close, it is simpler, and the nozzle is very expensive. The service life of the nozzle will be doubled, and it will even be burned out when it is installed. The maximum height that can be passed. 3\. The Thickness of the Perforation and Cutting Should be Within the Allowable Range of the Plasma Cutting System. Plasma cutting machine can't perforate on the steel plate which exceeds the working thickness. The usual perforation thickness is 1/2 of the normal cutting thickness. Try to cut within the range of the normal cutting thickness rated by the plasma cutting machine, try not to cut on the limit cutting thickness, the normal cutting thickness of domestic cutting machine is generally 60% of the maximum cutting thickness marked by the manufacturer, try to cut within this thickness range , The best protection of the cutting mouth. 4\. Do not Overload the Nozzle. Overloading the nozzle (that is, exceeding the working current of the nozzle) will quickly damage the nozzle. The current intensity should be 95% of the working current of the nozzle. For example: the current intensity of a 100A nozzle should be set to 95A. 5\. Keep the Plasma Gas Dry and Clean. Plasma cutting systems require dry and clean plasma gas to function properly. Dirty gas is usually a problem with gas compression systems, which can shorten the life of consumables and cause abnormal damage. The method of testing the gas quality is to set the cutting torch in a test state, and put a mirror under it to consume the gas in the cutting torch. If water vapor and mist appear on the mirror, you need to find out the reason. ### How to Extend the Service Life of Plasma Cutter Accessories and Parts? 1\. Ensure the correct air pressure and flow of the [plasma cutting machine](https://www.stylecnc.com/plasma-cutter/ "plasma cutting machine"): the correct air pressure and flow of the plasma is very important for the service life of the consumables. If the air pressure is too high, the life of the electrode will be greatly reduced; if the air pressure is too low, the life of the nozzle will be affected and the life of the plasma cutter will be more affected. 2\. Use reasonable cutting distance: According to the requirements of the instruction manual, use a reasonable cutting distance, which is the distance between the cutting nozzle and the surface of the workpiece. When perforating, try to use twice the normal cutting distance or use the plasma arc The maximum height passed. 3\. The perforation thickness should be within the allowable range of the plasma cutting system: The plasma cutter cannot perforate the steel plate that exceeds the working thickness, the usual perforation thickness is 1/2 of the normal cutting thickness. 4\. Do not overload the nozzle: overloading the nozzle (that is, exceeding the working current of the nozzle) will cause the nozzle to be damaged quickly. The current intensity should be 95% of the working current of the nozzle. For example: 100A nozzle current intensity should be set to 95A. 5\. Keep the plasma gas dry and clean: The system needs dry and clean plasma gas to work properly. The dirty gas is usually a problem of the gas compression system, which will shorten the service life of the consumables and cause abnormal damage. . The method to test the gas quality is to set the torch in the test state, and put a mirror under it to consume the gas in the torch. If moisture and mist appear on the mirror, you need to find out the reason and correct it. 6\. Cutting should start from the edge: start cutting from the edge as much as possible, not perforation cutting. Using the edge as the starting point will extend the life of the consumables. The correct method is to directly point the nozzle at the edge of the workpiece and then start the plasma arc. 7\. Avoid the extension and extension of the plasma arc: If it can only reach the surface of the workpiece by the extension and extension, the plasma arc will produce such stretching and expansion at the beginning and end of the cutting, which will cause abnormal damage to the nozzle. This problem can be avoided if the correct edge starting technique is used and the appropriate "arc-break" signal time is selected. 8\. Reduce unnecessary "arc start (or arc guide) time: the nozzle and electrode consumption are very fast when starting the arc, before starting, the torch should be placed within the walking distance of the cutting metal. 9\. Apply anti-splash chemical coating on the protective shell: anti-splash chemical coating helps reduce the accumulation of slag on the protective shell. However, it is necessary to remove the protective shell from the torch before applying the splash-proof coating. 10\. Remove the slag on the protective shell: the slag on the torch protective shell should be removed frequently, otherwise this slag will cause a destructive heavy plasma arc. 11\. Clear gas after replacing consumable parts: After replacing consumable parts or after a long period of shutdown, the gas should be purged (2-3 minutes is appropriate) to ensure that water and mist are discharged from the torch. 12\. Keep the torch and consumables as clean as possible: any dirt on the torch and consumables will greatly affect the function of the plasma system. When replacing consumable parts, put them on a clean flannel, always check the connection ribs of the torch, and clean the electrode contact surface and nozzle with hydrogen peroxide-based cleaning agent. 13\. Remove the oxides on the air or oxygen nozzle: When air or oxygen plasma is selected, oxides will be deposited in the nozzle, which will affect the air flow and reduce the life of the consumables. Wipe the inside of the nozzle with a clean flannel to eliminate oxides. 14\. 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