Plasma cutters are used in welding when a project requires very high heat. The process started during World War II when there was a need to build aircraft. In order to do this a high heat was needed so they found that by using an electric arc with a protective barrier of inert gas it was able to stop the weld from oxidation.

This was very important because they needed an improvement in the way aircraft materials were joined. As people continued to weld materials they found that if they narrowed the opening that the inert gas passed through, the arc became hotter.

The problem was that this also blew out a channel within the work because the gas flow went faster. Years later the process saw commercial use in the early 1960s. Unfortunately it was very expensive process so they had to use larger burning services to help pay for the expensive plasma cutting equipment.

Today, many manufacturers use plasma cutting because it can burn ferrous and non-ferrous materials. Portable plasma cutters have been created so a welder can literally carry their plasma cutters with them because they are very light. Some manufacturers of plasma cutting machines create a fully mobile unit by also adding air compressors to the equipment.

Reasons to Use Plasma Cutter

Plasma cutters are always used when there is a requirement of high heat for the metal. As an example, you can cut steal easily with it and non-ferrous material that you have to cut quickly. You can cut expanded metal in this and the laser like arc of the plasma cutter is able to be controlled easier than other types of plasma cutters. You can also make different types of cuts so you do not have to stick with a straight line.

Oxyfuel vs. Plasma Cutters

To get a perspective on what plasma cutters can do it is a good idea to compare it with Oxyfuel cutters. What welders have found is that plasma cutting is a much faster and more versatile process than Oxyfuel. It is more versatile because it can cut a variety of metals. Oxyfuel has to stick with metals that can be oxidized because it depends o this process to create what is needed in the process of welding.

Since plasma doesn’t rely on an oxidation process, it can cut aluminum and other metals that Oxyfuel cannot. Usually someone who is new to welding can master plasma cutting faster than they can Oxyfuel or other types of welding.

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Tags: Oxyfuel, Plasma Cutters, plasma cutting