If you are experiencing torch firing issues, check the Plasma Cutter Troubleshooting of our support portal first. Once you determine that the cause of the issue is not the plasma cutter itself, check the common causes of torch firing issues caused by the CNC controller listed below and report your findings to support@langmuirsystems.com if necessary:
- The first thing we will check is whether the plasma cutter operates as it should when used manually. Disconnect the cables that attach your plasma cutter to the CrossFire machine and THC. Use the torch on the trigger to engage and disengage the torch a few times. Does the torch respond appropriately every time that you use the trigger?
- The next thing that we will check is the 2T/4T switch. If your plasma cutter possesses this feature, make sure that it is set into 2T mode. Click here if you're not quite sure what to look for.
- The torch firing cable that connects your plasma cutter to the CNC electronics enclosure might be faulty. Will the torch fire if you short the torch firing cable? To test this, you will need the plasma cutter powered on and set in a safe position to fire the torch, and the torch firing cable unplugged from the "torch on/off" port of the control box. Once your plasma cutter is powered on and in a safe firing position, use a paperclip (or other thin piece of conductive metal) to bridge the torch firing cable's inner pin to the outer barrel. Doing so should force the torch to fire. If you're using a plug-and-play Razorweld 45 purchased from Langmuir Systems, perform this test with the torch firing cable plugged into both ports on the front of the Razorweld 45 to rule out an issue of the ports being swapped by the manufacturer.
- The torch firing port may have become disconnected from the motion control board. Inspect the blade connectors (orange and purple wires) in the clear plastic sheathing and make sure that they are plugged in correctly. Also inspect the backside of the torch inlet port and be sure that the connections are soldered on securely.
- Your relay might be faulty. The relay makes an audible "click" noise when switched from the open position (torch not firing) to the closed position (torch firing) and vice versa. If you power off your plasma cutter and initiate a manual torch fire in FireControl, can you hear the relay "click"?
- We'll also check that the relay is properly passing the signal along to the port. With your multi-meter in continuity mode, place one probe on the outside of the female barrel connector and one probe on the pin inside the barrel connector at the Torch On/Off Port. In FireControl, click Manual Torch Fire. You should have continuity between these two pins when a Manual Torch Fire is initiated. If you don’t have continuity, you will need your relay to be replaced. Be sure to click Manual Torch Fire again before plugging your torch back in to disarm it.
- The torch firing port might be faulty. Next we are going to check for continuity through the torch inlet female barrel connector on the electronics enclosure. Unplug the orange and purple blade connectors from the main wiring harness. With your multi-meter in continuity mode, place one probe on the orange blade connector and touch the other probe to either the outside barrel or the inside pin. You should have continuity to one of these. Next, probe the purple blade connector and probe the barrel connector again (if the orange had continuity to the inside pin, then probe the outside of the barrel connector and vice versa). If you are not getting continuity through both of these blade connectors to the port, you will need to have your inlet port replaced.