Torch Firing Randomly

[RUMFELT]

The torch on our machine (Plasmacam Machine Torch, 45 XP) will randomly fire after being initialized and after sporadically after cuts. The firing is not along any path but rather sits stationary and pierces a hole for 5-10 seconds then will stop. No error messages come up, the stop button does not stop the piercing the only way I have found to get the piercing to stop is to cut off Plasmacam control box.

Any help to troubleshoot is helpful. Happy to get on a call or text with ideas.

Thanks,

Garrett - 336-596-8486

[weldguy]

Well that is odd and sounds like it could be dangerous.

Has this just started to do this or is this machine new to you and your sorting it out?

Any AC tig welding going on in the area when this happens?

[acourtjester]

that sounds like you have an intermittent short between the 2 wires that are used to fire the torch. I would check the cable attached to the back of the XP that goes to the controller. Look for a place where the cable is bent and flexes, or may have been damaged. You can also have the unit turned on and move the cable around to see if it fires.

[rdj357]

Open Machine Diagnostics. The test button on the control pad is likely bad. Look at the screen and it will show the buttons of the controller. None should be yellow when not being pressed. If Test flickers or is yellow then the button is bad. You can order the Control Pad itself (not the whole controller) from PlasmaCAM and instructions to replace are pretty easy to follow in the video manual. Be careful of the little ribbon cable when putting it back in, long needlenose help.

If you're in a pinch to cut and it's messing you up, you can unplug the ribbon cable and leave it off - putting control pad back down on controller. None of the buttons will work except stop and off/on but at least it can cut and not fire randomly.

[adbuch]

Open Machine Diagnostics. The test button on the control pad is likely bad. Look at the screen and it will show the buttons of the controller. None should be yellow when not being pressed. If Test flickers or is yellow then the button is bad. You can order the Control Pad itself (not the whole controller) from PlasmaCAM and instructions to replace are pretty easy to follow in the video manual. Be careful of the little ribbon cable when putting it back in, long needlenose help.

If you're in a pinch to cut and it's messing you up, you can unplug the ribbon cable and leave it off - putting control pad back down on controller. None of the buttons will work except stop and off/on but at least it can cut and not fire randomly.