1: Thermal Dynamics
2: ESAB
3: Miller Spectrum Series
4: Hobart Airforce Series
5: Lincoln Pro-Cut Series.
Inside a Plasma Cutter
Inside a plasma cutter: The electrode is at the center, and the nozzle is just below it. The orange piece is the swirl ring, which causes the plasma to turn rapidly as it passes.
Plasma cutters function by sending a pressurized gas, such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen, through a small channel. In the center of this channel, a negatively charged electrode. When you apply electricity to the negative electrode, and you touch the tip of the nozzle to the metal, the connection completes a circuit. A powerful spark is generated between the electrode and the metal. As the inert gas passes through the channel, the spark heats the gas until it reaches the fourth state of matter. This reaction creates a stream of directed plasma that reduces metal to molten slag.
The plasma itself conducts electrical current. The cycle of creating the arc is continuous as long as current is supplied to the electrode and the plasma stays in contact with the metal that is being cut. In order to ensure this contact, protecting the cut from oxidation and regulate the unpredictable nature of plasma, the cutter nozzle has a second set of channels. This swirl ring creates chanels that release a consistant flow of shielding gas around the cutting area. The pressure of this gas flow effectively controls the radius of the plasma beam.
Buying the proper sized unit can save you alot of money. Tips on buying the right size plasma cutter - thickness and duty cycle come into play. Here are a few tips that can help when choosing to buy a new plasma cutter.
1: Cutting anything over 1 1/4 inch - it is cheeper to use oxy-fuel to cut the metal.
2: Cutting continuous - higher amperage output of the plasma cutter = the greater the duty cutting rate at lower amperage
3. Do you have a means of supplying the machine with compressed air. How will you supply electric current to the machine - 110V or 220V - important machine requirements.
4: Select a unit that does not use a high-frequency starting circuit. This will save all your electronics from unwanted interferiance.
*Plasma Cutter Brands
*Type Of Plasma Cutters
*Plasma Cutter Voltages
