Posts Tagged ‘Oxyfuel’

Plasma Cutting Tips for Successful Plasma Cutting

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

There are many ways to weld and when you need high heat plasma cutting is your best way to do it. You will find that plasma and the plasma arc process has been refined so you can get a better quality cut at higher speeds with a lower cost. You can also find that gouging and piercing will go a lot smoother.

Generally speaking plasma cutting is a simple technique to learn though the process seems complicated. Plasma cutting is also safer than using oxyfuel because there are no flashbacks or dangers from flammable gas like there is in oxyfuel gas cutting.

When you have a metal that you want to cut and it is a good electrical conductor, plasma cutting is the best way cut it.

How To Set Up the Plasma Cutter for the Best Cut

When you first start the cut the torch should be as close as you can get it to the base metal’s edge. Next press the trigger so you can start the pre-flow air and light the pilot arc. When you see that the cutting has started, control the torch so that it moves slowly across your project. You may need to adjust the speed to keep the sparks under the bottom of the metal. Watch the metal because if you do not see sparks under the bottom then you are not getting through the metal. If this is the case, slow down your movement and check the amperage of the plasma stream; make sure that you are holding it at an angle.

As you are finishing the cut, put the torch at a slight angle or pause it so that it will automatically finish the cut.

How To Make A Perfect Gouge

To do this you should place the torch at a 40 degree angle to the base metal. As you see the cutting arc igniting, make your arc a short distance from your work. You may have to adjust the length of the arc and the travel speed so that you are able to control the gouge. You do not want to cut it too deeply at first because you may have to do more than one pass if you are attempting to go through thick metal.

Plasma cutting is a skill that needs to be practiced just like any other welding technique. With these tips you may find that your practice goes smoother.

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Plasma Cutters and Their Uses

Thursday, January 15th, 2009

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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