What gases and regulators do I need?¶
There is no single M-Series gas kit for every mode. Choose hardware from the actual process, source/head, required inlet range and flow, and local cylinder/supply rules. Ask Gweike for the commissioning sheet for your serial number and give the gas supplier the required gas, purity, maximum inlet pressure, working range, and flow.
Process map¶
| Process | Common gas role | What must be verified |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber cutting carbon steel | Oxygen may support exothermic cutting | Material/process table, purity, pressure/flow, oxygen-compatible system |
| Fiber cutting stainless/aluminum | Nitrogen or clean dry compressed air may eject melt | Required flow, pressure, purity/dew point/oil carryover, edge expectations |
| CO₂ cutting/engraving | Air or process-specific assist | CO₂ head/process documentation and material safety |
| Handheld welding | Shielding gas protects the molten weld | Alloy/joint procedure, gas type/purity/flow and draft control |
| Handheld cutting | Assist gas clears the kerf | Head/nozzle/process table and rated supply |
| Cleaning | Gas/air may protect optics or clear plume in a documented setup | Exact head instructions; extraction still required |
This table describes roles, not setpoints. Values shown in a manual example or forum post can belong to a particular head, regulator scale, material, or machine revision.
Regulator and plumbing checklist¶
- Regulator is made for the specific gas and cylinder valve standard.
- Every regulator, hose, fitting, valve, filter, and machine inlet is rated for the maximum possible upstream pressure and required flow.
- High-flow service is sized by flow under pressure, not only the gauge's maximum number.
- Oxygen components are oxygen-compatible and kept completely free of oil/grease/contamination.
- Compressed air intended for a cutting process meets the required cleanliness, dryness, and oil limits.
- Cylinders are upright, secured, protected from impact/heat, and moved with caps/trolleys under local rules.
- Connections are leak-tested using an approved method—never a flame.
- The operator can isolate gas quickly and read both supply and downstream pressure.
Why pressure alone misleads¶
A gauge can show pressure while a small regulator, frozen regulator, restricted filter, long narrow hose, closing solenoid, or nearly empty cylinder cannot maintain required flow during a pierce/cut. Observe the documented dynamic state and diagnose supply, regulator, plumbing, and machine control separately.
Owner-community values¶
An owner question produced useful discussion of clean/dry air, high-flow regulators, and gas purity (community gas thread). Treat those numbers as peer notes to verify—not specifications for your machine. The final authority is the exact Gweike/source/head process documentation and competent gas supplier.
Stop conditions¶
Close/isolate the supply for a damaged regulator/hose, uncontrolled leak, regulator icing with unstable delivery, contamination of oxygen hardware, incompatible fitting, unexplained pressure loss, or gas entering an area without adequate ventilation. Never alter relief devices or make fittings “fit” with adapters not rated for the service.