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« on: April 22, 2008, 06:33:10 PM »
The Powermax range machines do not employ HV HF to initiate the arc. It uses a plunger style arc lifting mechanism in the torch. It is very well suited for PC based systems. I am a OEM business partner with Hypertherm and we fit these machines to CNC flatbeds all the time.
Things to do to try and kill the HF on your current system.
1.) Use a star configuration to ground the cutting table, plasma POSITIVE (Work lead), and the rails and your gantry.
2.) Keep cables away from torch and ground leads where possible.
3.) Fit a braided screen over the machine torch leads all the way and ground it on one side only.
4.) Use twisted pair shielded cables for your interface and limit switches and ground the shield on one side only, preferably on the PC side.
5.) Use common ground for all grounding, and the earth spike is not so efficient, that we've found through experience since 1984 in the industry.
6.) Check inside your plasma power pack. If the HF generator has open electrodes with a spark gap, adjust the gap as small as possible without loosing arc initiation.
7.) Most important, check your factory/home ground. Bad ground connections can even call ET! Beware!
8.) Keep in mind the Faraday cage.
9.) Best, chuck the yellow and fit a Powermax.
Whacko