I have a small self-contained Hobart Plasma Cutter, one of my favorite tools to use… probably 12-15 years old.

I’m getting a lot of “cup errors” when I first start it up. Loosen/tighten the cup, take it apart, put it back on and once I can get it started I’m good to start/stop continue as normal.

Any ideas what’s causing this? All of the gun/cup consumables are new.

Thanks,
Charlie

maybe


https://weldtalk.hobartwelders.com/...-hobart-airforce-625-cup-light-on-no-arc

Swirl baffle and contact tip

Put new ones in and see if it improves. You won't spend $8, I bet.

Thanks for the comments, Tin, I’ll try calling Hobart tomorrow and see what they say.

JG, you’re right the consumables are cheap, but I’ve changed them twice in probably the last 3-5 uses. I bet I went 8+ years before changing them the first time.

Charlie

Try some dielectric grease on the o ring then just 2-finger tighten it. I run a hypertherm and a Miller, but that’s usually the fix if it’s not the simple stuff. I used to change swirl rings a few times a year before I realized it’s near pointless, they don’t wear out very often at all.

Clean and dry compressed shop air are your best friends.

I talked to Hobart today and there's a little microswitch somewhere in the torch cup area that may be dirty, needs to be cleaned and or replaced. I sure haven't seen a switch in there, but the man says there is one...

Thanks for the comments.

Charlie

Just purchased a cheapy from Amazon for less that 300 bucks. 4 and half stars I think she was. Works on 110 or 220 and the thing cuts as nice as a Hypotherm. I'm impressed at how far the tech has come!