Table of Contents
How do you use plasma cutting?
How to Use a Plasma Cutter Step 1: Choose Work Location. Step 2: Plug in Unit. Step 3: Connect the Air. Step 4: Turn the Air On. Step 5: Attach the Ground Clamp. Step 6: Turn on the Machine. Step 7: Set the Current. Step 8: Cut the Metal.
What do you need to operate a plasma cutter?
Plasma cutting requires two basic elements — air and electricity — so the next question to ask is what type of input power is available. Several 30-amp plasma cutters, such as the Spectrum® 375 X-TREME™, operate using 120- or 240-volt power.
Is a plasma cutter hard to use?
The idea behind a plasma cutter is to cut tough-to-manipulate metal using very high temperatures that turn gas into plasma. Even though there are a lot of intense reactions and very high temperatures forming inside a plasma cutter, the user’s part is relatively easy.
How does a plasma cutter work?
Plasma cutters work by sending an electric arc through a gas that is passing through a constricted opening. The gas can be shop air, nitrogen, argon, oxygen. etc. This elevates the temperature of the gas to the point that it enters a 4th state of matter.
Can you plasma cut without gas?
Do you need gas for a Plasma Cutter? Gas is needed for a plasma cutter in order for it to work and create the plasma. As mentioned, the most popular gases to use are oxygen, nitrogen or argon.
Can a plasma cutter cut wood?
Virtually any metal can be plasma cut including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, etc. Plastics and wood are not electrically conductive and cannot be plasma cut. However, you can use a rotary saw, router, or other tool if you want to cut these materials in the PlasmaCAM machine.
Do you need an air compressor for a plasma cutter?
But if you do a lot of cutting, or plan to cut thick plate, we recommend using a compressor that is 1.5 to 2 times the plasma system requirement. Beyond choosing the right size air compressor for your plasma cutter, it is critical that you ensure the air that reaches your plasma cutter is high quality air.
Can you use a plasma cutter to weld?
With the right torch design, a nitrogen-water injection, less expensive than other gases, can work well when plasma cutting aluminum and stainless material for subsequent welding. The process involves an electrode surrounded by nitrogen, which is heated by an electric arc to form the plasma.
What gas do you use for plasma cutting?
Argon gas is used when plasma marking (a whole other subject). A mixture of Argon and Hydrogen is often used when cutting thicker Stainless Steel or Aluminum. Some people use a mixture of Hydrogen and Nitrogen, or Methane and Nitrogen when cutting thinner Stainless Steel.
Can a plasma cutter cut your finger off?
The way a plasma cutter works means it most likely won’t melt your finger off if you torched the plasma over it. However, it would do severe damage if your finger was underneath the metal you were cutting, due to the extreme heat that passes below the metal being cut. It has some serious heat.
How thick of metal can a 50 amp plasma cutter cut?
Excellent Air Plasma Cutter: The Cut-50 Plasma Cutter can easily cut up to 0.55”(14 mm) metal under maximum output with ultimate portability weighing only 21.56 lbs.
How long do plasma cutter tips last?
Usually, in normal conditions, we can say that the electrode will wear out first during machine cutting. Typical life time of a set of consumable should last about 1 to 3 hours for about 120 A of mechanized cutting, it’s in function of the job. Cutting at lower current may gets longer consumable life.
Is a plasma cutter better than a torch?
Plasma does not require the metal to be preheated before cutting, which saves time, and plasma cutters also outperform oxy-fuel torches when cutting stacked metals. Faster speeds can be achieved on thinner metals with plasma, with minimal or no metal distortion.
What are the disadvantages of plasma cutting?
Disadvantages Most plasma cutters aren’t useful for thicker or denser metals. While it limits ambient heat, plasma cutting is noisy and generates excess fumes. Plasma is also infamous for creating very bright flashes while the cutting is ongoing.
Can a plasma cutter cut titanium?
Plasma Cutting for Titanium Titanium can also be cut using a plasma torch or plasma CNC machine. Plasma cutting is extremely versatile, and can be especially useful for hard-to-reach angles or parts that do easily not fit on a bench or on a CNC bed.
Can you cut stainless with a plasma cutter?
The plasma cutting process may be used to cut any conductive material, including carbon steels, stainless steels, aluminum, copper, brass, cast metals, and exotic alloys.
Can I use oxygen for plasma cutter?
Oxygen. Using oxygen in your plasma torch offers the fastest cutting speed compared to any other plasma gas while still offering the best cut quality. Oxygen can also be used on stainless steel and aluminum, but it produces a rougher cut surface.
Do you need oxygen for a plasma cutter?
The most common plasma cutter gases include air, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and argon. All five of these work relatively well on thinner sheets of metal, one-half inch or less, but when the plate thickness increases, fabricators typically use a combination of these gases to improve production.
Can a plasma cutter hurt you?
The plasma cutting arc blows out hot metal and sparks, especially during the initial piercing of the metal. It also heats the workpiece and cutting torch, all of which can cause fire and burns. To protect your eyes while plasma cutting, wear approved safety glasses with side shield.
Can you plasma cut Aluminium?
Plasma cutting can be performed on any type of conductive metal – mild steel, aluminum and stainless are some examples. Plasma cutting, however, does not rely on oxidation to work, and thus it can cut aluminum, stainless and any other conductive material.
Why does my plasma cutter keeps cutting out?
Too slow of travel speed when cutting- Moving excessively slow when cutting (especially at higher amps) overheats the torch consumables and can cause the parts to wear out prematurely. It can also cause the arc to terminate. 3. Dragging the Torch Nozzle on work piece- This is a common mistake beginners make.
