Cutting With The Pt-31Xlpc; Operating Techniques - ESAB Powercut 650 Instruction Manual

section 4
Wear the usual protective gloves, cloth-
ing, and helmet. helmet with filter lens
shade no. 6 or 7 should provide adequate
protection for your eyes.
never touch any parts forward of the
torch handle (tip, heat shield, electrode,
etc.) unless the power switch is in the
off position.
position the powercut 650 at least 10
feet (3 meters) from the cutting area to
protect the unit from sparks and hot slag
from the cutting operation.
TOO FAST
fig. 4.2 - effect of cutting speed

4.1 cutting With the pt-31xlpc

After placing the primary (wall) switch to the ON position and making control and
air pressure adjustments as described above, proceed as follows:
1. Touch the tip of the torch to the workpiece (or within 0.020-in. of the workpiece)
holding the torch at about 15- 30° angle to avoid damaging the tip.
2. Depress the torch switch. (Air and high frequency should energize.)
3. Two seconds after depressing torch switch, the plasma arc will start cutting. (If
using the LOCK-IN mode, torch switch can be released after establishing the cut-
ting arc.)
4. After starting the cut, the tip can be dragged along the workpiece if cutting up
to 1/4'' thick material. When cutting material greater than 1/4'' , maintain a
1/8'' tip-to-work (standoff ) distance.
5. When ending a cut, the torch switch should be released (press and release if
using LOCK-IN mode) and lifted off the workpiece just before the end of the cut
to minimize double-arcing which can damage the tip. This is to prevent high
frequency from reigniting after cutting arc extinguishes.
6. In the postflow mode, the arc can be restarted immediately by depressing the
torch switch. The two second preflow will automatically cancel.

4.2 operating techniques

1. piercing - Materials (up to 1/8-in. thick) may be pierced with the torch touching
the work. When piercing thicker materials (up to 3/16-in. aluminum or 1/4-in.
stainless or carbon steel) at an angle, position the torch .020" above the workpiece.
Start the cutting arc, then immediately raise the torch to
1/16" stand-off and move the torch along the cut path. This will reduce the chance
of spatter from entering the torch and prevent the possibility of welding the tip
to the plate. The torch should be angled at about 30° when starting to pierce,
and then straightened after accomplishing the pierce.
2. grate cutting - For rapid restarts, such as grate or heavy mesh cutting, do not
release the torch switch. This avoids the 2 second preflow portion of the cutting
cycle.
17
TOO SLOW CORRECT
operation