ESAB PT-36 - Reduced Consumable Life Factors

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5.8 Reduced Consumable Life
1. Cutting Up Skeletons
Cutting skeletons (discarded material left after all pieces have been removed from a plate). Their removal from
the table can adversely aect electrode life by:
Causing the torch to run o the work. •
Continuous pilot arc edge starts. •
Greatly increasing the start frequency. This is mainly a problem for O•
2
cutting and can be alleviated by
choosing a path with a minimum number of starts.
Increasing likelihood that the plate will spring up against the nozzle causing a double arc. This can •
be mitigated by careful operator attention and by increasing stando and reducing cutting speeds.
If possible, use an OXWELD torch for skeleton cutting or operate the PT-36 at a high stando.
2. Height Control Problems
Torch diving is usually caused by a change in arc voltage when an automatic height control is used. The •
voltage change is usually the result of plate falling away from the arc. Disabling the height control and
extinguishing the arc earlier when nishing the cut on a falling plate can eectively eliminate these
problems.
Diving can also occur at the start if travel delay is excessive. This is more likely to occur with thin mate-•
rial. Reduce delay or disable the height control.
Diving can also be caused by a faulty height control.•
3. Piercing Stando Too Low Increase pierce stando
4. Starting on edges with
continuous pilot arc Position torch more carefully or start on adjacent scrap material.
5. Cut part tip up The nozzle may be damaged if the torch hits a ipped up part.
6. Catching on Pierce Spatter Increase stando or start with longer lead-in.
7. Pierce not complete before
starting Increase initial delay time.
  Correct settings
 
Current set too high
9. Coolant leaks in torch Repair leaks
SECTION 5 MAINTENANCE