Plasma Cutting Machines What is Plasma? Plasma cutting is a process that is used to cut steel and other metals of different thicknesses (or sometimes other materials) using a plasma torch. In this process, an inert gas (in some units, compressed air) is blown at high speed out of a nozzle; at the same time an electrical arc is formed through that gas from the nozzle to the surface being cut, turning some of that gas to plasma. The plasma is sufficiently hot to melt the metal being cut and moves sufficiently fast to blow molten metal away from the cut. Plasma is the fourth state of matter along with solids, liquids and gases. Plasma is a jet or beam of ionized gas capable of conducting electricity. This ionized jet or beam produces extreme heat of around 22,000o C. What is High Definition Plasma? High Definition Plasma is the same process as plasma cutting but the plasma beam is delivered through a much smaller nozzle orifice at higher velocity and results in ...
How does Oxy fuel Cutting work? Preheat flames are used to heat up the surface of the steel to approximately 1000°C (1800°F – bright red color) but below the metal’s melting point. A jet of pure oxygen is then directed toward the heated area in a fine, high pressure stream. A vigorous exothermic chemical reaction takes place between the oxygen and metal forming an aluminum or iron oxide or rust. The pressure of the jet of oxygen blows away the slag or oxide forming a cavity. The preheat and oxygen stream are moved at constant speed to form a continuous cut. Can oxy-fuel method be used to cut any metal? The answer is that it cannot! This depends on the melting point of the individual metal’s oxides. Only metals whose oxides have a lower melting point than the base metal itself (low carbon steel and some low alloys) can be cut with this process. Otherwise as soon as the metal oxidizes it terminates the oxidation by forming a protective layer. In other words Oxy fuel cuts by burn...