how long should the tips and electrodes last under ideal conditions

[deere_x475guy]

Hey guys...just changed the electrode and tip for the first time. I did quite a bit of gouging with the electrode and cut some with the standard tip with drag shield....

Sure did save me a lot of time. I cut all the pieces for a bucket last night in about 45 mins....(included all the time for layout and setting up cut lines and guide).

I am just wondering what everyone else is getting for life of tip and electrode?

[sabastion]

I work at a farm equipment plant and our tips and electrodes on our plasma last almost a week, that's cutting mostly thin stuff though, 1/8 1/4 ect. We use it mostly for free hand cuts, I suppose every machine is probably different, but that's my situation!
happy welding!
sabastion

[Jerry]

Hey Bob, I would say that a tip will last longer if when you cut, you travel only fast enough to keep molten metal going out the bottom and not blowing back up at torch. I would also save some of the old tips for you can scrape or file them a little cleaner and use them again. Although a old tip will not cut nearly as good as a new one, but if you have a nasty cutting job put the old ones in, and when your cutting something where you need a great cut use new.

[deere_x475guy]

Thanks for the responses guys. I got the stand off roller finally yesterday along with the Motor Guard filter. This should help also. I am finding it very hard to determine if I have a 1/32 pit in the electrode. Miller says to change that electrode when the pit gets to 1/32. I hate to guess at the wear. From what I understand if that electrode gets worn to much it will destroy the torch itself. Seems like a saftey catch would be built into the machine that would just shut down the machine when the electrode is worn to that point.

Bob