Powermax 85 Seems weak

[cstroke]

Have a weird issue lately.
My settings are not working, just out of the blue. So far this is with fine cut nozzles. 12 ga stainless steel and my speeds are closer to 10 ga.
11ga carbon steel and again speeds arent even close. I was reusing older consumables when this started and figured that was the problem, the consumables were shot. Changed out to new and nope same problem. It calls for 45 amps and I changed to 50 on the machine and it cut fine.
Can my machine be losing power somehow? Or am I barking up the wrong tree here?
Thanks in advance
chris

[acourtjester]

How is your air pressure supply need about 100 PSI at the back of the unit with no big drop when cutting

[weldguy]

Maybe moisture in your air supply, it will cause all kinds of issues like this and it has been wet and humid around here.

Do your electrodes have black/grey deposits swirling around the electrode to the tip of it? Do you see these same deposits inside the nozzle leading to the hole in the center?

If so it is likely just dirty/moist air. Better air filtration and drying will help if this is the case.

[cstroke]

Its odd, been cutting quite a bit and this is all of the sudden.
It's almost like my machine lost power.
Lots of cutting so we'll see if it's just fine cut consumables or all across the board.

[acourtjester]

Do you have a direct connection from the Plasma unit and the metal being cut. I use a cable with a clamp that attaches to the metal tand is connected to a place on the frame where I directly connect the plasma return cable to.

[cstroke]

Yes I have a ground, it is perplexing. I cut a bunch of 1/2" plate today and it's been fine.
Also cut with 45 amp shielded yesterday and it cut fine.
Problems I've had were with 45 unshielded fine cuts stainless and steel.
Will keep cutting to find where the problems are.
I've never gotten bad consumables before, is that even a possibility?