Need help with THC conversion on Vipercut 30i

CrossFire ® Troubleshooting
1

Hey guys, I am having the worst time getting this machine back online. Worked fine before I installed THC connection. Been down for months!

I have a 1st gen Mach 3, grey Crossfire 2x2 Machine with a Vipercut 30i. I have seen the connection pic here: Vipercut 30i THC connection I believe this is correct although my machine does not have the points labeled like they are in this pic.

The raw cables are giving me about 1.55vdv when the machine fires.

Output from the VIM box to the THC by removing the THC connector from the cable, the probing the two holes with a solid piece of wire to a multi meter. When it stikes an arc I saw .22vdc maximum then it quickly goes down to 0 or .01.

Langmuir send me a new THC cable and VIM box

Today I was able to test with new cable and box and I had the same error when trying to cut something (Detected movement before… or something like that). I ran the voltage test, resting voltage is fine but the live voltage test said 1.4V (Low).

Man I really want to get this working, any advice, would be really helpful! I want to finish this go cart to bring camping in the next couple of weeks!!!

2

With the raw voltage connection how is your polarity hooked up?

You’re going from the Viper to PV input on the vim (the black box that connects your THC) to PV output to the electronics enclosure on the table.

3

Raw voltage should be between 70 and about 130 volts DC. It may spike to 300 volts during the initial firing of the torch.

You must not have your raw voltage wires connected correctly.

I would skip the board connections and connect directly to the back of the connectors where the torch and work clamps plug in.

4

The only thing I am concerned about is the pilot arc VS plasma… there is one larger cable and two smaller wires (They are both landing at the same place). Any advice on which is which? I wired according to the original pic referenced in original post.

5

Polarity is correct. Not using PV input rather using red and black raw cables and yes on PV output to enclosure

6

Hey Guys, so I took off the THC and went back to the original computer to see if it would work, and its doing the same thing!

It’s acting like it only lights up for a second or two (Maybe the pilot arc) then the plasma cuts out , dead. Any ideas how to diagnose the plasma? Plenty of air, new consumables, good power, good ground as far as I can tell, etc I dont even know what to check next.

7

I recommend consulting the Plasma Guru, @mechanic416

2 Likes