Testing electrodes on a CNC torch

Plasma Cutters
1

Was in the shop working on a customers CNC torch. Installed the consumables that came on it, hooked it up to a plasma cutter and fired it.

It had a bad electrode even though it looked fine. So I took a short video of the torch firing with the bad electrode. Then put in a new Tecmo electrode and did a video with it. Now I don’t know were his electrode came from and yes you can get a bad electrode from every manufacture.

Just posted the videos on youtube.
CNC torch electrode test ( bad)
CNC electrode test (good)

2 Likes
2

Unfortunately, I can attest to that sound from personal experience! :scream:

Sounds kind of like when you cause a balloon to squeal when deflating by pulling on the sides of the opening and letting the air out slowly.

2 Likes
3

Also its hard to see but you can see the greenish flame that means its burning the copper from the electrode.
Yea I have a large youtube channel (34 subscribers) :rofl: :rofl:

4

If you look out to the front edge of the flame, that second layer just past the bright part appears green. Not sure how well this screen grab did. It is most obvious on the 2nd test firing of that “bad” electrode:

image
image229×218 29.4 KB