Is it possible to weld a plasma cutter torch and repair it?
The company I work for is getting rid of the cutter because the shop moron melted it. I think he ran it without argon?
It makes me sick to think theyre just tossing it, its a PCM-150 that theyve had for like 30 years and never had an issue when I used it.
No one can tell me what torch it is or what it can be replaced with. I was wondering if I could just Tig weld the hole shut in pic related and keep it for myself?
You can do whatever you want. There's literally nothing or nobody stopping you.
The only thing you're not guaranteed is a good result, which depends entirely on you and your own aptitude, and that's not anything anyone here can advise to.
Now frick off with your moronic question, get back on the short bus, and fricking die you gay fricking homo.
Thanks! You could have just said you have no idea how the cutting head works and fricked right off but I appreciate you powering through and making an ass out of yourself anyway
What's there to understand? There's no special esoteric knowledge involved here.
>durrrrrrr hole in side of thing
>am i able to plug hole?
It's yes or no. But good on you for trying to deflect the abortion that is this thread on to someone else.
Keep at it, champ! You'll win one day. Everyone but you is stupid.
Ah man Im so sorry youre right, with such quality threads like "How do I drill a hole" and "How big is too big' how could I post something as stupid as tool repair?
Why would I every want a second opinion repairing something with 300 amps and Oxygen going through it? Plasma is 40,000 degrees?
I should just start monkey wrenching the thing, licking the terminals too
you've got nothing to loose trying to salvage it
that's a big, old 3 phase 150A L-Tech plasma, right? i think i remember they had a water cooled hand torch with the cooler built in. make sure it's working before you cut anything or it'll roast the torch again
those machines were some kind of hybrid high frequency and pilot arc start. there probably isn't any cheapo replacement torch option because new plasmas strike the arc fundamentally different. your best hope would be finding an old takeoff torch from a dead machine. esab still kinda supports the L-Tech stuff, but it's pricy for parts
^This. Someone will have figured out using another torch, or perhaps OP can find parts via a local welder repair shop or Ebay where lots of L-tec etc stuff turns up.
BTW if that one lacks jumpers for single phase it could also run from an RPC so I would save it for the future. RPCs aren't hard to build but some looking usually yields used deals. I run my compressors and monster buffers off my RPC.
>PCM-150
That torch is quite common and be glad your co-workers are moronic (or just want a newer plasma). Grab that cutter ASAP, take it home and SAY NOTHING so they forget it and you get more free stuff.
I got good at fixing welding gear when I ran a welding school toolroom (they have no money) and promptly hunted my own industrial welder collection for dirt cheap.
You can also connect other torches but consumables for that one will be easy to find. You can run them just fine with clean compressed air. Do some reading on welding fora.
You can download the service manual from ESAB https://manuals.esab.com/ and you can contact their tech support too. I have a variety of their welders and their support has been excellent.
https://www.cnczone.com/forums/waterjet-general-topics/74716-just-bought-esab-pcm-150-750-torch.html may be of interest, note the "similar threads".
If the replacement is too expensive for your liking you can use clone torches etc after some reading since the connections are pretty basic.
My boss actually encouraged me to sell it and keep the money because he knows Im trying to get into a new place. I just figured it might be better to fix it before selling it, or pocket it because Ill probably never have another chance to own one this big.
Ive been away doing contract stuff and Idk how long its been out near the shed with rain getting in it. Probably not more than a month or two.
It doesnt use water, just Oxygen and Argon. Id happily try to Tig weld some stainless steel into the holes if the risk of frying myself testing it isnt high.
Yeah its like 1300lbs and 30 years old if my manager is to be believed.
Anytime I used it it was super simple point and cut. Turn on the two tanks and press the button and it would cut. Assuming I can get it working again Id be happy to keep it just to have the ability to slice through steel like butter
The retrofit link I posted is offical ESAB tech data for torch replacement.
Download the pdf and save that with the manual when you get that (have your data plate info like serial and exact model number handy when searching the ESAB site. If no joy contact tech support. You may not need to run an oxygen-argon mix or whatever they use as that unit should also take clean dry filtered compressed air.
ESAB is the parent company that inherited the Linde, L-tec, Union Carbide's hardware etc line and continued many machines made at the Florence, SC plant in yellow paint vs the previous green. Their tech support had a lot of older manuals and may still if not on their site.
Does it look like https://www.purplewave.com/auction/170502/item/BY9083/Torches,_Welders_and_Plasma_Cutters-Hand_Held_Plasma_Cutter-Kansas
Pic Related, its the yellow model
Im strapped for cash at the moment, I was hoping to be able to fill those holes around the torch to get it as far as at test. Id be more willing to bring it home without testing it if it hadnt been being rained on. Do you think that would frick it up badly? Outside under a tarp?
That being said replacing one of the two tanks with an air compressor would be a big incentive towards keeping it, the only other ass of it would be setting up three phase power at my place
Rain evaporates and those old circuit boards are designed for use in industrial environments. I've seen many used machines left outdoors for some time. I'd bring it home, pop the cover and inspect. It would not worry me.
If you want a healthy shop accumulate the (affordable BTW) parts for a rotary phase converter then you can run all sorts of machines with that others pass on, like the two industrial compressors I just scored for 250 bucks because they're three phase. The Practical Machinist forum on phase converters and RPCs is gold.
ESAB is a global vendor so aliexpress etc might have parts too. They have a shitload of plasma parts and consumables.
https://ldgsesabwe.blob.core.windows.net/manuals/InstructionManuals/BrandsVictor/F-15-278.pdf
PT-25 are common so consider a refit.