How To Use A Plasma Cutter

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.

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.

What gas do you need for a plasma cutter?

Compressed Air is the most commonly used gas for lower current plasma cutting and works well for most metals from gauge thickness to 1 inch. It leaves an oxidized cut surface. Compressed air can also be used for plasma gouging on carbon steel.

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.

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.

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.

Can a plasma cutter 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.

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 much does it cost to run a plasma cutter?

Operating costs consist of electricity, water, compressed air, gasses, and consumable parts. Plasma cutters cost approximately $5 – $6 per hour to run.

Are plasma cutters worth it?

Plasma cutters also cut quickly and efficiently. Plasma equipment is considered to be better value for money, as well. Plasma torches are low-maintenance, rarely requiring replacement. Plasma cutting also relies on inert gases, making it much safer to use than oxygen-based cutting.

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 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 all plasma cutters need compressed air?

Therefore, all plasma cutters need an air compressor to generate enough air pressure for the task. If you buy a plasma cutter without a built-in source of air, you’ll need a separate air compressor. This complicates the process with another heavy machine and more draw on your power supply.

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.

How hot is plasma arc?

The energy of the plasma jet and thus the temperature depends upon the electrical power employed to create arc plasma. A typical value of temperature obtained in a plasma jet torch is on the order of 28000 °C (50000 °F), compared to about 5500 °C (10000 °F) in ordinary electric welding arc.

What can plasma not cut?

Other materials that cannot be cut include glass, concrete, and ceramics. These materials are non-conductive and are used to insulate electrical products. If you are using a plasma cutter, it simply needs to have a conductivity to complete the electrical connection. Otherwise, it just won’t cut at all.

Can you cut aluminum with a plasma cutter?

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.

Can you make money with a plasma cutter?

Plasma tables are able to cut materials much differently than a CNC mill. “Everyone loves something ‘cut in metal’. It is substantial and permanent,” he says. Sign making is a pretty basic business, and you can provide products to your customers at fairly reasonable prices while still making a profit.

What metals can a plasma torch cut?

Plasma cutting is a process that cuts through electrically conductive materials by means of an accelerated jet of hot plasma. Typical materials cut with a plasma torch include steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass and copper, although other conductive metals may be cut as well.