Booth phrase for starting the gun: a plasma gun lights off on a high-frequency or high-voltage start that establishes the arc, while HVOF and flame guns ignite with a spark or pilot after a purge. A clean light off settles to stable voltage or chamber pressure within seconds. Repeated failed light offs point to worn hardware, wet gas or a bad ignitor.
Heard on the job
Light off and let it settle a minute, I want the voltage flat before the first pass.
Also heard as
- light the gun
- light-up
- ignite
Related terms
Gun
Booth word for the thermal spray torch itself, whether plasma, HVOF, arc or flame.
Gun voltage
The arc voltage of a plasma gun, watched as a live indicator of gas mix, power and hardware wear.
Nozzle
In a plasma gun, the water-cooled copper anode the arc attaches to; in HVOF, the passage that shapes the jet.