I brought the MAX 100 cutter home. Rewired for 240v, three phase. It
seems to work, kind of. One annoying thing is that it also comes with
a control with ON and OFF buttons, and the button on the torch is
disabled. But that's OK, these things normally are not hard to rewire
and the manual discusses it, so it is just a matter of looking up in
the manual.

Now, back to first question. I tried cutting some 1/8" piece of sheet metal.

The issue is that even though it cuts the sheet, it makes a very
uneven cut, lots of dross etc.

A note must be made that the torch is equipped with VERY worn
consumables for 100A cutting. I was cutting at, at most, 30A.

So. Could it be because the cutter is bad, could it be because of the
operator (me), or could it be that I need consumables for under 40A
cutting. I am sure that most of my cutting will be under 40A. I do not
have enough juice in my home circuit to cut at 100A.

Second question concerns quality of air. I have a refrigerated air
dryer with a filter attached (and its own outlet). HOWEVER, I also use air tools
that I plug into another air outlet, which is lubricated. So
conceivably there is some oil in the hose. Is that too bad? Do I need
a separate hose for cutting, or can I simply remember to plug my one
hose into proper outlet depending on application?

thanks

i

I brought the MAX 100 cutter home. Rewired for 240v, three phase. It
seems to work, kind of. One annoying thing is that it also comes with
a control with ON and OFF buttons, and the button on the torch is
disabled. But that's OK, these things normally are not hard to rewire
and the manual discusses it, so it is just a matter of looking up in
the manual.

Now, back to first question. I tried cutting some 1/8" piece of sheet metal.

The issue is that even though it cuts the sheet, it makes a very
uneven cut, lots of dross etc.

A note must be made that the torch is equipped with VERY worn
consumables for 100A cutting. I was cutting at, at most, 30A.

So. Could it be because the cutter is bad, could it be because of the
operator (me), or could it be that I need consumables for under 40A
cutting. I am sure that most of my cutting will be under 40A. I do not
have enough juice in my home circuit to cut at 100A.

Second question concerns quality of air. I have a refrigerated air
dryer with a filter attached (and its own outlet). HOWEVER, I also use air tools
that I plug into another air outlet, which is lubricated. So
conceivably there is some oil in the hose. Is that too bad? Do I need
a separate hose for cutting, or can I simply remember to plug my one
hose into proper outlet depending on application?

thanks

i

Bad consumables will affect all cuts, regardless of power setting. Oil
in the hose will mess up the arc; use a blowgun and give a blast of air
for 15 seconds onto a clean white cloth (spare handkerchief?) to check
for oil (or moisture for those of us without refrigerated dryer).

Ignoramus3975 wrote:

I brought the MAX 100 cutter home. Rewired for 240v, three phase. It
seems to work, kind of. One annoying thing is that it also comes with
a control with ON and OFF buttons, and the button on the torch is
disabled. But that's OK, these things normally are not hard to rewire
and the manual discusses it, so it is just a matter of looking up in
the manual.

Now, back to first question. I tried cutting some 1/8" piece of sheet metal.

The issue is that even though it cuts the sheet, it makes a very
uneven cut, lots of dross etc.

A note must be made that the torch is equipped with VERY worn
consumables for 100A cutting. I was cutting at, at most, 30A.

So. Could it be because the cutter is bad, could it be because of the
operator (me), or could it be that I need consumables for under 40A
cutting. I am sure that most of my cutting will be under 40A. I do not
have enough juice in my home circuit to cut at 100A.

Second question concerns quality of air. I have a refrigerated air
dryer with a filter attached (and its own outlet). HOWEVER, I also use air tools
that I plug into another air outlet, which is lubricated. So
conceivably there is some oil in the hose. Is that too bad? Do I need
a separate hose for cutting, or can I simply remember to plug my one
hose into proper outlet depending on application?

thanks

i

Not sure why you have a lubed air port and get oil in your hoses. Unless
you are an industrial production shop, just putting a few drops of oil
into each air tool before you use them will be just fine and keep your
air lines clean.

Any contaminants in the air will affect the plasma and you should have
extra filters installed directly on the input to the plasma cutter to
help protect it. The Powermax 1000 I got comes standard with a filter on
the inlet as an extra safeguard and the manual makes it clear there
should be additional filtering before it in your air system.

One question is on the gas input(s) to the plasma cutter, I noticed the
Max200 is listed as an entry level oxy plasma cutter and uses a dual gas
configuration. I didn't look at the archived Max100 manuals to see if it
is also a dual gas unit. It appears that air/air is one of the options,
but that may require specific consumables and configuration.

I brought the MAX 100 cutter home. Rewired for 240v, three phase. It
seems to work, kind of. One annoying thing is that it also comes with
a control with ON and OFF buttons, and the button on the torch is
disabled. But that's OK, these things normally are not hard to rewire
and the manual discusses it, so it is just a matter of looking up in
the manual.

Now, back to first question. I tried cutting some 1/8" piece of sheet metal.

The issue is that even though it cuts the sheet, it makes a very
uneven cut, lots of dross etc.

A note must be made that the torch is equipped with VERY worn
consumables for 100A cutting. I was cutting at, at most, 30A.

So. Could it be because the cutter is bad, could it be because of the
operator (me), or could it be that I need consumables for under 40A
cutting. I am sure that most of my cutting will be under 40A. I do not
have enough juice in my home circuit to cut at 100A.

Second question concerns quality of air. I have a refrigerated air
dryer with a filter attached (and its own outlet). HOWEVER, I also use air tools
that I plug into another air outlet, which is lubricated. So
conceivably there is some oil in the hose. Is that too bad? Do I need
a separate hose for cutting, or can I simply remember to plug my one
hose into proper outlet depending on application?

thanks

i

I brought the MAX 100 cutter home. Rewired for 240v, three phase. It
seems to work, kind of. One annoying thing is that it also comes with
a control with ON and OFF buttons, and the button on the torch is
disabled. But that's OK, these things normally are not hard to rewire
and the manual discusses it, so it is just a matter of looking up in
the manual.

Now, back to first question. I tried cutting some 1/8" piece of sheet metal.

The issue is that even though it cuts the sheet, it makes a very
uneven cut, lots of dross etc.

A note must be made that the torch is equipped with VERY worn
consumables for 100A cutting. I was cutting at, at most, 30A.

So. Could it be because the cutter is bad, could it be because of the
operator (me), or could it be that I need consumables for under 40A
cutting. I am sure that most of my cutting will be under 40A. I do not
have enough juice in my home circuit to cut at 100A.

Second question concerns quality of air. I have a refrigerated air
dryer with a filter attached (and its own outlet). HOWEVER, I also use air tools
that I plug into another air outlet, which is lubricated. So
conceivably there is some oil in the hose. Is that too bad? Do I need
a separate hose for cutting, or can I simply remember to plug my one
hose into proper outlet depending on application?

thanks

i

On Wed, 10 Jan 2007 14:51:01 GMT, Pete C. <aux3.DOH.4@snet.net> wrote:
Not sure why you have a lubed air port and get oil in your hoses. Unless
you are an industrial production shop, just putting a few drops of oil
into each air tool before you use them will be just fine and keep your
air lines clean.

Any contaminants in the air will affect the plasma and you should have
extra filters installed directly on the input to the plasma cutter to
help protect it. The Powermax 1000 I got comes standard with a filter on
the inlet as an extra safeguard and the manual makes it clear there
should be additional filtering before it in your air system.

OK... I will make sure to use all the proper filtering... There is
indeed a filter/regulator on this thing. I need to plumb it properly.

One question is on the gas input(s) to the plasma cutter, I noticed the
Max200 is listed as an entry level oxy plasma cutter and uses a dual gas
configuration. I didn't look at the archived Max100 manuals to see if it
is also a dual gas unit. It appears that air/air is one of the options,
but that may require specific consumables and configuration.

Air/air is the main option on this cutter. Nitrogen is also possible,
not that I will use it. I'll make sure to get good consumables, today,
from Mittler Supply.

i

All comments re air quality etc are good, but,
BEFORE you spend money on new consumables, strip your torch so you can see
the electrode mounting post and (preferably with an accurate measuring tool
like vernier calipers) check that the torch parts are still all concentric.
If a torch has previously been overheated due to abuse or a faulty cooling
timer, the concentricity may have been compromised and from that time
onwards, the toch will cut off centre and rip through consumables.
The only solution is a new torch head.
Here's hoping this is not your problem, but better to check.