Tips For Getting Better Plasma Cutting Quality
As is known to many, there are a variety of ways
to weld and when you need high heat, plasma
cutting is obviously the right choice. It
is true that the plasma arc process has been refined
and you can get an excellent cut at higher speeds
with at relatively low cost. The gouging and piercing
also become a lot smoother.
Plasma
arc cutting is a process where an open
arc can be constricted by passing through a small
nozzle, or orifice, from the electrode to the work
piece. Although plasma cutting is quite easy to learn
and perform, the process seems complicated to many.
Moreover, plasma cutting is much safer than using
oxyfuel because there are no flashbacks or risks from
flammable gas. When you have a metal to cut and it
is a good electrical conductor, there is no better
way than plasma cutting.
Plasma cutting can be successfully
performed on a variety of material and different sizes.
Plasma can be used to cut anything from thin gauge
aluminum to stainless and carbon steel of several
inches, depending however on the power of the cutting
machine. Here are a few tips that can help further
refine your cut quality as well as prolong the life
of your equipment.
First of all, carefully study the owner's manual
and understand the safe and right manner of operation
of your particular plasma cutter.
Before commencing work, it is always preferable
to experiment with a small sample cut on the same
type of material to ensure you are using the right
settings and travel speed.
It is also suggested that you practise movements
a couple of times before actually pulling the trigger
to make sure you have sufficient freedom of movement
to make one continuous cut.
It is helpful to use a drag shield if your plasma
cutter is fitted with one. This is because a drag
shield allows you to rest the torch on the workpiece
while maintaining an optimal ?- in. standoff without
touching the tip to the metal.
If on the other hand you have no drag shield, use
your non-cutting hand as a support for your other
hand. to maintain the optimal 1/16- in. to ?- in.
distance between the tip and the workpiece. This will
provide the required freedom of movement in all directions
while maintaining a constant standoff and also stabilize
your cutting hand.
Make it a point to use the right tip for your amperage
setting. As you may be aware, a lower-amperage tip
has a smaller orifice to maintain a narrower plasma
stream at lower settings.
Using a 40-amp tip at an 80-amp setting will distort
the tip orifice and lessen consumable life whereas
using an 80-amp tip on the lower settings will not
focus the plasma stream will lead to a wider kerf.
Use extended tips to reach out further for cutting
in corners.
For thicker material, start with the torch on a
45-degree angle so the first blast of metal lands
elsewhere. Otherwise, the metal will splash back and
increase wear on your consumables.
When cutting thicker material, set the machine to
full output and vary your travel speed. On thinner
material, turn down the amperage and change to a lower-amperage
tip to maintain a narrow kerf.
Please know plasma cutting is a skill
that needs practice for attaining perfection just
like any other welding technique.
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