ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY (EMC)
EMC INTRODUCTION
Hypertherm's CE-marked equipment is built
in compliance with standard EN50199. The
equipment should be installed and used in
accordance with the information below to
achieve electromagnetic compatibility.
The limits required by EN50199 may not be
adequate to completely eliminate interfer-
ence when the affected equipment is in
close proximity or has a high degree of
sensitivity. In such cases it may be neces-
sary to use other measures to further
reduce interference.
This plasma equipment is designed for use
only in an industrial environment.
INSTALLATION AND USE
The user is responsible for installing and
using the plasma equipment according to
the manufacturer's instructions. If electro-
magnetic disturbances are detected then it
shall be the responsibility of the user to re-
solve the situation with the technical assis-
tance of the manufacturer. In some cases
this remedial action may be as simple as
earthing the cutting circuit, see
Earthing of
Workpiece
. In other cases it could involve
constructing an electromagnetic screen
enclosing the power source and the work
complete with associated input filters. In all
cases electromagnetic disturbances must
be reduced to the point where they are no
longer troublesome.
ASSESSMENT OF AREA
Before installing the equipment the user
shall make an assessment of potential elec-
tromagnetic problems in the surrounding
area. The following shall be taken into
account:
a. Other supply cables, control cables,
signalling and telephone cables; above,
below and adjacent to the cutting equip-
ment.
b. Radio and television transmitters and
receivers.
c. Computer and other control equipment.
d. Safety critical equipment, for example
guarding of industrial equipment.
e. Health of the people around, for
example the use of pacemakers and hear-
ing aids.
f. Equipment used for calibration or mea-
surement.
g. Immunity of other equipment in the en-
vironment. User shall ensure that other
equipment being used in the environment is
compatible. This may require additional
protection measures.
h. Time of day that cutting or other activities
are to be carried out.
Earthing of Workpiece
Where the workpiece is not bonded to earth
for electrical safety, nor connected to earth
because of its size and position, for example,
ship's hull or building steelwork, a connection
bonding the workpiece to earth may reduce
emissions in some, but not all instances.
Care should be taken to prevent the earthing
of the workpiece increasing the risk of injury
to users, or damage to other electrical equip-
ment. Where necessary, the connection of
the workpiece to earth should be made by a
direct connection to the workpiece, but in
some countries where direct connection is
not permitted, the bonding should be
achieved by suitable capacitances selected
according to national regulations.
Note. The cutting circuit may or may not be
earthed for safety reasons. Changing the
earthing arrangements should only be au-
thorized by a person who is competent to
assess whether the changes will increase
the risk of injury, for example, by allowing
parallel cutting current return paths which
may damage the earth circuits of other
equipment. Further guidance is given in
IEC/TS 62081 Arc Welding Equipment
Installation and Use.
Screening and Shielding
Selective screening and shielding of other
cables and equipment in the surrounding
area may alleviate problems of interference.
Screening of the entire plasma cutting
installation may be considered for special
applications.
The size of the surrounding area to be
considered will depend on the structure of
the building and other activities that are tak-
ing place. The surrounding area may extend
beyond the boundaries of the premises.
METHODS OF REDUCING EMISSIONS
Mains Supply
Cutting equipment must be connected to the
mains supply according to the manufactur-
er's recommendations. If interference
occurs, it may be necessary to take
additional precautions such as filtering of
the mains supply. Consideration should be
given to shielding the supply cable of per-
manently installed cutting equipment, in
metallic conduit or equivalent. Shielding
should be electrically continuous throughout
its length. The shielding should be connect-
ed to the cutting mains supply so that good
electrical contact is maintained between the
conduit and the cutting power source
enclosure.
Maintenance of Cutting Equipment
The cutting equipment must be routinely
maintained according to the manufacturer's
recommendations. All access and service
doors and covers should be closed and
properly fastened when the cutting
equipment is in operation. The cutting
equipment should not be modified in any
way except for those changes and adjust-
ments covered in the manufacturer's
instructions. In particular, the spark gaps of
arc striking and stabilizing devices should
be adjusted and maintained according to
the manufacturer's recommendations.
Cutting Cables
The cutting cables should be kept as short
as possible and should be positioned close
together, running at or close to the floor
level.
Equipotential Bonding
Bonding of all metallic components in the
cutting installation and adjacent to it should
be considered. However, metallic compo-
nents bonded to the workpiece will increase
the risk that the operator could receive a
shock
by
touching
these
metallic
components and the electrode at the same
time. The operator should be insulated from
all such bonded metallic components.
Hypertherm
Plasma Systems
i
01/25/05
