AFR-200 Regulator on Force Cut 80amp Plasma Cutter

[specter]

Ok!! On other mfr units they have two mounting screws for the air regulator/filter bracket. The mountng screws are usually located top center on the back of the unit.

Page 7 of the manual shows the air regulator/filter should mount in same place as other units and similiar to othher mfrs. Yet as shown in my picture there are not any mounting screws on the back of the unit. There are no holes in the back of the unit to mount the regulator/filter bracket. The unit did not include screws.

So question? How do you mount the regulator/filterw ithout boring holes into the unit and volding the warranty.

Add-on: yes I tried phoning but its the weekend and I got a recording. Gadget did you have similiar problem on your unit? If so how did you resolve the problem,
Ps: The white spots on the back of the unit are not screws! That was the electrostatic white foam packing material.

[Gadget]

Specter,
I mounted my air regulator/water separator on outside of the welding cart. I wasn't comfortable having the filter mounted on the unit since it drains water from the air line and I wanted to keep it away for that reason. I used quick couplers to make it easier to disconnect from the filter in case I have to move it.

Gadget

[specter]

spoke to simon told him about problem and that I did not want to drill holes into the unit to mount the regulator/filter in same place of similiar units. Was told I coould mount on a plasma cart or mount on wall near unit. I did the later and mounted the regulator on the wall behind the unit.

[specter]

Well folks got the ForceCut 80 amp Plasma Cutter all setup.

Checked everything, Unit properly grounded, 3/8" mild steel cleaned and ground clamp attached, air regulator set to 80psi, unit dial set to 60amp, Turned circuitbreaker/switch ON, and then made contact with the steel.

On initial contact got arc, withdrew tip to standoff distance, torch arced for about 2 secs then I heard a loud click. Then I noticed circuit breaker tripped. I immedially rechecked all connections and settings all appeared ok. So I turned the unit back ok tried another burn on the steel then heard clicking sound and noticed sparks :blob2: from side of machine and the front of the units circuit breaker/switch, within seconds it had tripped breaker again.

I called Simon at Longevity (amazing he was there on Saturday):help:. Simon had me recheck all settings and the settings were ok. Next Simon walked me through opening the case of the unit (once unplugged). Case open and it was now the service guy from our shop showed up to see how I was doing with unit hookup. I explained to Simon that my service guy was here with me. Simon walked us through checking the circuits with a electrical tester. The unit was charged up and tripped again it was then we noticed where the sparks came from before the unit tripped the breaker. We noticed several burned out three wire chips on both sides of the unit. We also noticed a wire corrector loose above one of the circuit boards.

Given the facts Simon agreed that the unit had to be replaced and will email me a prepaid shipping label for return of the defective unit. Simon also said he and his tech folks would take a new unit perform visual inspection and fully test it before sending me the new unit by prepaid overnite shipping. Also told me to keep the air regulator had mounted to the wall despite the new unit having another regulator. Simon also told me to keep all the consumables. I agreed with Simon return of defective unit and sending me a new fully inspected/tested unit.

I am attaching the pictures of the defective areas.

NOTE:
I do not expect that every dealler selling equipment does a proper inspection and tests of the units before they sell them to their customers. BUT!! I would think the factory that actually manufacturers would perform quality assurance in the form of a visual inspection followed by electrical & performance testing against the units specifications.

Now granted some shipping handlers have been known to damage units. However!! The outside casing of the unit was neither scrached or dented. And as shown in the pictures its pretty obvious it was a factory caused fault.

Personal: Thanks to Simon for his help in quickly resolving this situation. My personal recommendation to Simon! Inform the factory to perform required quality control.

[Gadget]

Specter,
Sorry to hear you are having problems. I have about three hours of cutting on mine now with flawless cutting. I am sure Simon will get you fixed up. You will look back on this as a minor bump in a happy purchase decision.
Dan

[specter]

Hi Dan,

So far his support has been flawless in that he takes all the time neccessary to fully explain.

Oh that units fireworks was pretty impressive as well! Glad it had a very good built in circuit breaker.

Tom

[specter]

Simon I took some surveyor's orange plastic tape and stuck it in the area of the faults to make it easier for the technician to locate them. The unit is all re-assembled and back in the original shipping box. The unit is packed with the prepaid DHL label and ready to go when DHL shows up tommorrow when the new unit arrives.

[longevity-inc.com]

Tom,

I see the pics. Thanks, I am sorry your mosfets blew. It happens sometimes as these units are mass produced. I have had your replacement tested and checked for loose wires! Thank you for being patient.

Call me personally and let me know if everything is ok with the replacement.

Simon

[specter]

Well replacement Force Cut LP80 Plasma Cuter arrived this afternoon. Hooked it up and started to do a cut on 1/8" sheet steel. Flipped switch on touched torch to steel and all it did was blow air.

As above on original unit I checked all connections, air pressure, grounds, and voltage. All ok. Called Simon!! Again we walked thru opening unit and looking for loose connections. It was the same wire loose again. This was 2nd unit to have this same wire loose! Lucky for me unlike the 1st unit this wire had not shorted upon the capacitor. I checked by hooking the wire up to the empy connector on the board turned unit on and !!!!!!???????

It finally worked. Zipped thru the sheet steel.

Next I tried 3/8 car spring steel. Peirced in two place then cut in either direction.

Next a 1/2" hardered steel PTO slip sleeve.

Finally 1 1/4" dragster axle shaft. Don't know what kind of steel but a Lenox bi-metal ahcksaw blade woulld,'t even scratch the surface.

I don't know what the max spec cutting is on this cutter but as you can see it buzzed right thru. And did it fast. Cut quality was good given it was only a trial cut.