plasma problems

[abprt]

plasma problem

1st i want to say hey wass up

ive got a miller 375 sepctrum plasma cutter ive had it around 2 years its been awesome ,i fired it up yesterday and the cut was all over the shop i thought it was the tip ,it was spitting back between the tip cover and the handle ,so i thought it was the tip that wasnt good put a new cup and tip in it today and now it wont arc when you hitt the trigger ,it still pumps the air but no arc i took the new tip out and it looks like its arcing between the tip and where the tip sits ,i took the electrode out that the tip sits on and cleaned it up as it had signs of arcing but it still doesnt work ,theres no lights on the front of the machine lighting ,any1 had a similar problem or has any tips for me to try ,could it be in the handle area or furthur back to the machine any help would be appreciated before i take it to the welding store to be repaired


thanks in advance yall

Have had two torches for the same 2050 have broken wires below the handle. Try holding the trigger down and wiggling the lead directly below the handle. Know that my torches weren't mishandled by anyone since I am the only one who has used it since buying new. Miller says that it's uncommon for the same thing to happen on same type of torches.

[monte55]

A problem with his " plasma cutter " was the reason for his post!

Griff

Gee...do ya think??

[rjcustoms]

latest update checked all the cables from the pc1 board to the torch all seem ok no breaks in the wires ,the pc1 board looks ok cant see any broken soldered connectors ,no burn marks etc the only thing i can see is the swirl ring has a crack in the side but i cant see that making that much difference ,all the connecters are nice and tight kinda stuck ,rekon its time to take it into the shop and pay up ,not looking forward to that 1 ,just putr it all back together again rekon il take it back out to the shop hook it up and see what happens , thanks for all your help yall

[griff01]

Gee...do ya think??

Certainly! But as proven by your first reply (here is another comma for you), you missed his point.

Griff

[monte55]

You certainly seem to be interested in my posts. Why are your shorts up in a wad? Are you a groupie?

[SpcR]

The In..tard..net is full of people with high post counts and big mouths. The rest of us must not know anything because we don't sit around and play desk jockey all day. Anyway, Miller can't seem to figure out how to design a gun worth a crap so put a Thermal Dyne gun on it and never look back. (and yes it can be done)

There's nothing wrong with the torches Miller puts on thier plasmas. They are actually designed by Hypertherm. What is a "Thermal Dyne gun?"

[SpcR]

the swirl ring has a crack in the side

Did you try replacing the swirl ring?? Maybe you should try this first.
Are any of the lights blinking on the front of the machine? Are the consumables in right?? Is the retaining cup not too tight?? I would call Miller before taking it to the repair shop. 1-800-4AMILLER

[con_fuse9]

so i thought it was the tip that wasnt good put a new cup and tip in it today and now it wont arc when you hitt the trigger ,it still pumps the air but no arc i took the new tip out and it looks like its arcing between the tip and where the tip sits ,i took the electrode out that the tip sits on and cleaned it up as it had signs of arcing but it still doesnt work

My understanding of plasma system there are actually 3 things you need. 1) gas - in this case air and that seems to be flowing. Although I would replace the swirl ring because that should also be an insulator. 2) You need a pilot arc - typically high frequency (I'm assuming a circuit not unlike what a TIG welder uses. 3) you need the main drive.

Anyway, initially, the electrode is supposed to start the arc in the nozzle. That electrode/nozzle arc is blow through by the gas (air) and what you see on the outside is exactly that. Either the arc isn't staring, or the air is being routed around it.

My electrodes only show discoloration on the end closest to the tip, not the end near the torch (looks like new copper). At the very tip, right in the middle is a small gray/silver what I think is an arc-track.

You are going to want a new swirl ring anyway, I would just spend the bucks and replace all the consumables. Not sure how a swirl ring would crack anyway... probably the first clue.