Consumables 45A (Hypertherm)

Electrode elements take a beating, even during normal plasma cutting. Every time an arc is produced, the plasma cutter electrode element receives a huge surge, bringing it from cold to an extremely hot. When powered, touching your Hypertherm Powermax 45 plasma cutter’s nozzle to metal completes the circuit, causing an intense spark and heating the gas until it becomes plasma. Ionized plasma gas racing past the electrode is full of charged particles. The particles pull atoms away from the hot surface of the electrode. This normal wear and tear works on the emitting element, creating pits in the surface. If electrodes aren’t changed in time, there could be serious damage to the torch. The electrode could even burst inside the torch. Frequency of use is more important than the time you spend actually cutting. Frequent use is usually the cause of worn electrode elements. It’s best to frequently check the pit in the electrode element.