Pilot arc discussion – Lincoln Electric IM944 POWERTORCH PLASMA 20 User Manual
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B-5
NOTES
POWERTORCH™ PLASMA 20
B-5
PILOT ARC DISCUSSION
The POWERTORCH™ PLASMA 20 has a smooth, contin-
uous pilot arc. The pilot arc is only a means of transferring
the arc to the workpiece for cutting. Repeated pilot arc
starts, in rapid succession, is not recommended as these
starts will generally reduce consumable life. Occasionally,
the pilot arc may sputter or start intermittently. This is
aggravated when the consumables are worn or the air
pressure is too high. Always keep in mind that the pilot
arc is designed to transfer the arc to the workpiece and
not for numerous starts without cutting.
When the pilot arc is started, a slight impulse will be felt in
the torch handle. This occurrence is normal and is the
mechanism which starts the plasma arc. This impulse can
also be used to help troubleshoot a "no start" condition.