So tonight was interesting. A tad bit of experimentation with compressed air and the first usage of the plasma in-real-life.
First the compressed air thing.
Ok so I have an 80 gallon, 5HP, 2 stage vertical compressor. However I need to change the oil and the system (lines) I have plumbed to it won't reach the front of the outbuilding. I do have a little Porter Cable pancake, but that isn't sufficient to power a plasma. I communicated with a guy who has done more plasma cutting than I have and he suggested "going mobile" with the compressed air supply; in this case that meant using 2 (or more) pancakes to get the air supply you need. My kneejerk to that was "nah, I don't like that notion." And I didn't. And still don't. However I needed a solution. I can't cut behind the outbuilding because it's an unimproved part of the property, which means that it is grass. So the front it is. As it turns out, when I was in HF a short while back, they had a sale + a coupon on a Central Pneumatic compressor that is of the same capability as the Porter Cable that I already have. 1.5 HP, 6 gal, 150 max psi. So I decided to take a punt on the idea and brought one home:
![pancakes 2.jpg](./download/file.php?id=17485&sid=83e123bb484013649437bdaf17f2062f)
- pancakes 2.jpg (232.45 KiB) Viewed 2057 times
The suggestion I received was to simply use a t-fitting to join the supplies into one output and run the plasma from there. "Wha-?" thought I. Seemed like you'd need/want a check valve on each of the compressor sides of that t-fitting at a minimum to me. However the indication was that it was unnecessary. Not having done anything like this in the past, I decided to give it a try. So I also purchased some shorter hose and the necessary fittings. I put those together today:
![pancakes 1.jpg](./download/file.php?id=17484&sid=83e123bb484013649437bdaf17f2062f)
- pancakes 1.jpg (62.17 KiB) Viewed 2057 times
I'll only need two of these for now, the third will be used when and if the day comes that I can store the plasma table inside on a permanent basis. In that scenario this hose will remain connected to the water dryer/filter, which is connected to the plasma. That will be their home, with the male fitting being mounted to the side of the table such that you'd simply need to connect air to it, turn the machine on and begin work. That's the idea anyway...