Common Troubleshooting of CNC Plasma Plate Cutting Machine

Primary Position of CNC Plate Cutting Machine in Manufacturing Industry: 

1. Background: CNC Strip Plate Cutting Machine is the basic and requisite equipment in nearly all facilities of manufacturing industry involving processing of sheet metal;

2. Extensive Use: With technique advancement of Plate Cutting/ Control System/ Driving System, as well as growing demand on cutting precision and consistency, the CNC Cutting Machine gets more extensive application;

3. Topics Here in This Short Blog on CNC Plasma Cutting Machine:

a) General picture of the machine;

b) Plasma power supply on the machine;

c) Common Troubleshooting on Plasma Power Supply in the machine:

 

A. General Picture of CNC Plasma Cutting Machine:

1. Category: There are several broad branches of CNC Strip Plate Cutting Machine in broad category;

2. Major Classification on CNC Plate Cutting Machine:

In the time sequence of put onto market, the three major kinds of the machine can be listed as:

1) Oxygen fuel CNC Plate Cutting Machine:

 Including:

 a) Special outline workpieces to be cut from the machine;

 b) Oxygen fuel flame triple CNC Cutting Machine, for edge beveling purpose;

 c) Oxygen fuel flame strip CNC Plate Cutting Machine, equipped with Oxygen and Acetylene/ Propane gas system, for steel structure construction use;

2) CNC Plasma Plate Cutting Machine:

a) For accomplish on profiled plate cutting, by means of plasma power supply;

b) The max. cutting capacity of the machine depends on model of the plasma cutting supply;

3) Laser generator CNC Plate Cutting Machine:

For carrying out profile cutting on sheet metal plates, by means of laser generator;

4. Tier of CNC Plasma Cutting Machine:

 Of these, the plasma machine is the “medium” product in the product group of CNC Plate Cutting Machine, on the aspect of:

1) The equipment purchase investment on the machine quotation;

2) Max. cutting capacity of the machine;

3) Fineness of finished cutting kerf to be produced from the machine;

These various variety of CNC Plasma Cutting Machine has got wide and popular use for over decades of years. 

B. Plasma Power Supply of CNC Plasma Plate Cutting Machine:

1. Function: The role of plasma power supply in any set of CNC Plasma Cutting Machine, is like hands and arms for a people: It is the execution unit of the machine; And directly determines on finished quality of plasma contour plate cutting in the machine;

2. Models of Plasma Power Supply in CNC Plasma Cutting Machine:

 Depending on:

1) Required max. cutting capacity of the machine, in terms of plate thickness;

 2) Max. output current of plasma power supply, 

There are series models of plasma power supply to choose from, meeting on various demands of customers on the CNC Plasma Cutting Machine;

3. Technical Characteristics: Meanwhile, plasma power supply is a delicate mechanism which needs strict and full round maintenance and service, for guaranteeing on consistent high standard performance of the machine itself;

4. Importence of proper service:  For this reason, to fully grasp on knowledge on common troubleshooting on the plasma power supply, is also of vital importance for making satisfactory operation of the machine.

C. Common Troubleshooting on Plasma Power Supply in Plasma CNC Plate Cutting Machine:

1. General Guide: Here we share tips on common troubleshooting on plasma power supply in CNC Plasma Cutting Machine based on years of experience. Before that, we stress that it is based on our accumulation on understanding on the machine, and just for your reference. You can use it as a guide for routine checking on daily operation of the machine;

2. List of Tips on Common Troubleshooting on Plasma Power Supply in CNC Plasma Cutting Machine:

1) Lamp Failure in the CNC Plasma Cutting Machine:

a)  Failure Phenomenon: With the switched on of the plasma power supply, its indicating lamp and digital meter does not illuminate;

b) Possible Cause and Corresponding Solution on CNC Plasma Plate Cutting Machine:

i.  The three phase electricity power is lack of phase --- Check on the electric power supply;

ii.  The switch of electricity power supply is spoiled --- Replace the electricity switch of the machine;

iii.  The 3A fuse for electricity power control is broken --- Replace the fuse;

2) No Arc Striking with Power Feed in of the CNC Plasma Plate Cutting Machine:

a)  Phenomenon: No arc striking with power switch turned on and its indicating lamp illuminates;

b) Possible Cause and Corresponding Solution: Lack of phase/ Undervoltage or Overvoltage of the three phase power --- Check on electric power supply of the machine;

3) No Arc Striking, or Arc Broken in the Cutting Operation of CNC Plasma Plate Cutting Machine:

a)  Phenomenon: No arc striking, or arc is broken during working period of the machine. At the same time, Overheating Indicating lamp illuminates;

b) Possible Cause and Corresponding Solution in the CNC Plasma Plate Cutting Machine:

i. High ambient temperature --- Let the machine in break state for certain period of time, until the machine gradually cools off;

ii. Cooling fan rotates slowly or does not work at all, making poor cooling effect during cutting period of the machine; --- Check on and repair the cooling fan if necessary;

iii.   Temperature relay fails --- Replace the thermal relay of the machine electric system;

4) No Start Up of the CNC Plasma Plate Cutting Machine:

a) Phenomenon: The machine could not be properly started on. Besides, the Gas Pressure Indicating lamp does not illuminate;

b) Possible Cause and Corresponding Solution in the Machine:

i. No gas pressure --- Check on and make sure that, proper connection of gas pipeline and tubes into the machine;

ii. Pressure of the gas supply is too low --- Make adjustment on thermal cutting gas conduit and panel;

iii. Damaged pressure gauge of thermal cutting has --- Replace the pressure gauge of the machine;

5) Poor Cutting Quality in the CNC Strip Plate Cutting Machine:

a) Phenomenon: The machine does not deliver eligible special shape plate cutting;

b) Possible Cause and Corresponding Solution in the Machine:

i.  Thermal cutting gas pressure is too high or too low --- Adjust on cutting gas pressure by means of its control panel;

ii. The compressed air filter regulator cup is blocked --- Rinse with water regularly;

iii. Thickness of workpiece exceeds the max. cutting capacity of the plasma power supply of the machine --- Match thickness of workpiece with specification of plasma power supply;

iv. Cutting torch electrode and nozzle fail --- Replace the elements;

v.  Plasma arc is not perpendicular to the workpiece during initiation of the machine operation --- Adjust on the cutting torch angle;

vi. Plasma cutting speed is too fast or too slow --- Adjust on cutting speed based on cutting technique of CNC Plasma Cutting Machine.