Lincoln Electric TORCHMATE 5100 User Manual page 79

What Causes Bad Cuts:
Instances where the metal was not fully cut indicate a few problems:
1. Ground clamp is not properly attached to the material
2. Air pressure drop or surge
3. Moisture in the air line
4. Drop in power
5. Contact with the material by the torch - most plasma cutters go into a low power mode on contacting the material,
causing the cut to not fully penetrate the material.
When the machine begins to move before a pierce is completed, the cut will not complete. In this case, the dwell time or
pierce delay must be adjusted to allow for enough time to pierce the material.
When a cut's path does not return to the starting point, there may be mechanical slipping or binding. In some cases, it will
be clear which axis is losing position. Examine the particular axis for build up or obstructions that can cause binding.
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User Guide