Filters

[tonylumps]

New guy to Plasma. Just got my new Powermax 30. I was wondering Is there such a thing as to many filters for a Plasma air supply Thanks Tony

[LarryO]

As long as your machine is getting the right pressure and volume, it will be ok. The 30 will telll you if not enough pressure. The dry air makes for better cuts and longer consumable life.

I run a total of 3, with one direct on the back of the machine. im sure the 30 has an internal on as well, just like the 45. I could be wrong aboout that.

[goinssr]

You are correct, the PM30 has an internal filter.

[tonylumps]

Larry the 30 has an internal filter Reg.I put a Gauge on the out of the small Motorguard filter on the power unit and have the same pressure as the Compresser Regulator.I made a few more cuts and it seems to be fine cutting 1/4". Same as before I added the extra filter. Guess that is the only way to check Volume. The only reason for adding the small Motorguard to the unit I can actually see if the pellets are changing color with the clear filter body

[goinssr]

Tony...are you talking about the orange filter attached directly to the unit? If so where did you get it at and how much?

[tonylumps]

Yes that is a Motorguard Disposable I bought them at Cyberweld 17.06 for a pack of 2. If you spend 25.00 or more Free shipping lower 48 so I bought 2 packs They are in NJ across the river from me No tax some time I get my order the next day. Between them and McMaster Carr Who are also in NJ I save on some Gas

[mechanic416]

Tony, Good clean air is a must. That said I was looking at the picture of your air compressor and have a suggestion on your piping. For safety and getting rid of water in your system the next time you shut your compressor down you might want to change the piping. Put the shutoff right at the compressor then put a tee fitting stright up and down put a 2' drop down with a auto bleeder on it, then put the rest back on as it is but make a bracket from the compressor to the filter to hold the weight. I have seen the elbow brake off the way you have it.

[Mick120]

Tony,
Also depends on where you're located.
I'm in a sub tropical, high humidity region of Australia and, run a refrigerator dryer, three Friulair filters going from 3 micron to 0.5 micron (the sub micron is mounted after the refigerator dryer) plus, the water trap on the back of my Hypertherm 1650.
Some guys in places like Alaska, only run a Motorgard filter.
Don't worry about having too many....makes for long consumable life.

[tonylumps]

Originally Posted by mechanic416

Tony, Good clean air is a must. That said I was looking at the picture of your air compressor and have a suggestion on your piping. For safety and getting rid of water in your system the next time you shut your compressor down you might want to change the piping. Put the shutoff right at the compressor then put a tee fitting stright up and down put a 2' drop down with a auto bleeder on it, then put the rest back on as it is but make a bracket from the compressor to the filter to hold the weight. I have seen the elbow brake off the way you have it.

I did change that piping since that picture was taken I replaced everything with 1/2"and added a Bracket to the compresser Where I have the compresser located If I come out of the tank with a close nipple and the 1/2" ball valve it would be out to far into garage door Unless i find a a male valve but I can add that T with a drop.

[tonylumps]

I was getting a little disappointed with the cuts that I have been making with the PM30 Should I have gone with the 45 So i went back to where I started. did more Manual Reading, watched more Videos, Used more free advice. So I put a gauge at the power unit I could not see the one on the compresser ,When I pulled the trigger on the torch the pressure dropped way below setting Raised the pressure from 80 to 100 Then changed all Quick connecters to High flow fittings.The 30 was cutting a lot better but looked a little like my O/A cuts And that was not good.Could not figure what I was doing wrong Until I read a post that if you are using a straight edge to cut It will telegraph the cut more on a Plasma then O/A There was the problem .Made a dedicated straight edge just for the plasma I do not need the 45, The 30 works Flawless the Guy holding the Torch has got to pay attention to what he is doing. Thanks Tony

[recklessnova]

If the little dis motor guard filters are like the identical looking ones from harbor freight they say disposable but you can change out the beads inside easily, 2.2 pound pag of beads is like 5 bucks. a lot cheaper then buying new filters at 17bucks a set.
Josh

[tonylumps]

I am hoping that little filter will never have to be changed if the 3 post filters are doing there job. The reason I put it on is so I could see what is going on without taking apart the others for a visual check. But you are Right I did buy 2 extra packs of pellets for the HF pipe filter.

[jimcolt]

Just remember that there will be a pressure drop across each filter. The pressure drop will only show up when the air is flowing to the plasma torch...so be sure you are not shortchanging the plasma with air flow/pressure! Low plasma air flow acts just like turning the amperage knob to a lower setting!

Jim Colt Hypertherm

[tonylumps]

Jim as other Members suggested I changed all fittings to High Flow and mounted an Air gauge to the air inlet at the Power Unit No loss of pressure after the filters at all. Yesterday I had the day off because of the weather I cut a lot of 1/4" coupons to try out my new MM211. That little 30 never Hicked-up once I was minding the Duty cycle and the light never came on But the fan did so I backed off a little bit. Money well spent. PS That strap is foam lined Just to keep my 30 from falling off the cart in case it gets bumped.

[jimcolt]

That is where the pressure should be monitored on every plasma system! Don't worry about the fan....it comes on long before you are even close to duty cycle. On hot summer days it will run almost continuously.....may never come on if its 20 degrees! I'm going out in my shop right now to cut about 20 parts out of a sheet of 1/4" for a local welder....it is 14 degrees F in my shop. I'm pretty sure the fan will noy come on in my Powermax45 today!


Jim

[tonylumps]

If I would have used my O/A it would have been a mess But O/A still has it's use's but not for cutting by me