Basics of plasma cutting
Do you need a cutting tool for occasional repairs and maintenance? Have you just started a new project that requires a large amount of cutting? Or are you looking for a replacement for your current hacksaw? All of this is a good reason to do some research on plasma cutting. Given the declining price of tools and machinery, the influx of small, portable tools into the market, the improved quality of tools with the help of technology and their easier use, it may be a good time to consider plasma cutting. The benefits of plasma cutting include ease of use, higher quality cutting and higher travel speed.
What is Plasma Cutting Technology?
Simply put, plasma cutting is a process that uses a high-velocity jet of ionized gases passing through a constricting orifice. High-velocity ionized gas, or plasma, transmits electricity from the plasma cutting machine burner to the workpiece. Plasma melts the material by heating the workpiece. High-velocity ionized gas vapor disperses the molten material and cuts the material.
Comparison of plasma cutting and oxyfuel cutting
Plasma cutting can be used for any type of conductive metal, for example: mild steel, aluminum and stainless steel. With mild steel, faster and heavier cuts can be experienced than with alloys.
In oxy-fuel cutting, the metal is cut by burning or oxidation. For this reason, this cut is limited to steel and other oxidizing ferrous metals. Metals such as aluminum and stainless steel form an oxide that prevents the oxidation process from continuing, making it impossible to use conventional oxygen-fired cuts. But plasma cutters are not dependent on the oxidation process for activity and are therefore capable of cutting aluminum, stainless steel and other metals.
Although different gases can be used to cut plasma, most people now use compressed air as plasma gas. Compressed air is readily available in most stores, so plasma cutting does not require compressed fuel or oxygen.
Plasma cutting is easier for beginners to master and works faster on thinner materials than plasma cutting. However, because air is usually faster to cut and plasma requires very high capacity power supplies for heavy plate cutting, oxy-fuel is preferred for thick steel parts (2.54 cm and above).
What can be used with a plasma cutting machine?
Plasma cutting is ideal for non-ferrous metals and steels with thicknesses less than 2.54 cm. In air, the cutting operator must carefully control the cutting speed to ensure that the oxidation process continues properly. In this case, the plasma is much simpler and does not require high accuracy. The advantage of plasma cutting is more visible in delicate processes such as wire mesh, which is almost impossible to cut by air cutting. Also, compared to mechanical cutting, plasma cutting is usually faster and can be easily used in non-linear cutting.
What are the limitations of plasma cutting? In what cases is air cutting preferred?
Plasma cutting machines are usually more expensive than oxygen burners. Also, oxy-fuel does not require electricity and compressed air, so it may be more common for some users to use it. Air cutting can make thicker cuts (above 2.54 cm) of steel faster than plasma.
source: https://farco-psr.com/%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%b9-%d9%88-%d9%82%db%8c%d9%85%d8%aa-%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%b4-%d9%88%d8%b1%d9%82/