This is exactly the kind of issue that Isaac Asimov was worried about with the fall of the Dial clock.
At least my sun dial moves the right direction if I’m in the northern hemisphere
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I’ve read a couple posts on this now, yet I still don’t find a conclusive answer (maybe I’m overthinking it) ‘Top’ is not clear to me, nor is clockwise or counter clockwise. This post had me hopeful, good picture, simple question ~ A, or B. 2 said B, one said A so I’m still confused. Seems based on lots of reading other places that it matters. Seems like if it did they’d only allow it to fit one way so I’m doubtful. I’m having trouble getting square cuts and just trying to narrow down the problems.
It does matter and Hypertherm makes their swirl rings so they only go in one way.
A- will cause a clockwise swirl of the air exiting the nozzle.
It’s easy to just flip it over and try it the other way with the PTM60 style torches. Stick with what gets you the best results.
Welcome @DanB42
Well I have seen Hypertherm swirl rings in upside down a few times as well as the Razorweld swirl rings.
As @ds690 stated on the PT/IPT/PTM style torch’s the swirl ring should be installed so the air spins in the same direction as the electrode screws in.
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As the Tecmo person said, there is in fact no difference.
Hard to say considering there isn’t a single photo of your cuts or consumables, your exact settings for said material thickness, your consumables used, the brand of the plasma cutter and/or consumables, the angle of the bevel, and what all you’ve done with the table side of things.
What confused me the most said by @mechanic416 is “air coming in from OUTSIDE to the INSIDE would be going in the same direction as the electrode screws in“ yet the swirl is supposed to be clockwise?
If air goes in from outside through the swirl ring in the orientation @mechanic416 is suggesting, it would be a counter clockwise spin.
If air is supposed to travel clockwise down the nozzle, why is B correct?
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The swirl direction is supposed to be the same as you would tighten the electrode, such that the air doesn’t loosen the electrode. It’s clockwise looking “up” at the electrode from under the torch, as it would be mounted on the machine.
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ok. Sounds good. This is clear to me. Thank you
And that’s exactly the opposite of all of the illustrations of the torch. 