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View Full Version : PowerMax 45 Issue - Torch LED Flashing

unixadm
12-03-2011, 05:33 PM
I'll call Hypertherm this week but I went out to cut a few parts on my CNC table. I'm using a CandCNC AIO control with DHTC. This system has worked flawlessly with no issues. Anyhow I had not cut any parts for a few months so I got everything fired up and went to do my first cut. I have a T45M torch for reference (changed consumables as well). It sets the torch height and tries to fire the torch. A bit of air comes out and the Arc volts in Mach 3 show up to around 10 volts then it faults. The flashing LED indicates a torch open or closed issue so I swapped to a hand torch and it does the same thing.

Anyone have any ideas? The machine has maybe 20 hours of cutting on it and today is the first time I connected the hand torch just to test.

Air is good (fully filtered), power is good (dedicated 50A circuit), consumables are new. This was a fairly early PowerMax 45 - they had not been out very long when I bought it in early 2010.
unixadm
12-03-2011, 07:52 PM
Well I have no idea what the heck was going on with this thing. Everything looked fine so all I did was turn the knob to the air test position and turned it back to 45A. After doing that I tried the hand torch and the pilot started. Power cycling it the 10 or so times prior had no effect. Hooked up the machine torch and it's working again. I'll have to keep my eye on it but it seems to be back in business.
ccawgc
12-06-2011, 02:08 AM
Go ahead and call Hypertherm and describe whats is going on. They may be able to give you a reason and a good fix.
Did you get a flashing torch cap light at power up or with trigger pull?
You will get a torch stuck open at trigger pull, if the power pcb does not sense pilot arc current. This can be caused by worn or dirty consumables, even dirty new consumables. (clean the oil and dirt off them before putting them in) 2nd Open conductor(bad connection, broken wire) in the torch and 3rd pilot arc IGBT not firing on the power pcb.
Torches have a shorter warranty then the plasma units. A 2010 unit is still under warranty, the torch may not be.