Plasma cutters

[RockMonkey]

How do they work? Who has a real good understanding of the science? Explain it to me, please. I know it has something to do with electricity, and compressed air, but what really makes it work?

 

[ace]

How do they work? Who has a real good understanding of the science? Explain it to me, please. I know it has something to do with electricity, and compressed air, but what really makes it work?

Basically the hot arc melts the metal and the compressed air blows it out of the puddle, producing a cut. I've used my inlaw's and its cool.

 

[RockMonkey]

Why do they call the tips "consumable"? What happens to them?

BTW thank you, that sounds like a reasonable, and simple explanation.

 

[grinch]

We need to get TJJeepJunkie (Jake Mecham)In on this one... He works for airgas and usually knows A good amout about this sort of thing...
I belive there are several types of plasma cutters.... The ones most of us use arn't a true plasma cutter because they dont use a rod to burn through the Mettle.... Just an ark.
Jake was explaining it to me one day but I cant rember exactly what he was saying.
I do know there are some plasma cutters that use a consumable rod sort of like a ark welder.....
I did just get a new (used ) 110 plasma cutter and love it to death.... I dont think I could ever go back to a torch for making brackets......

 

[Shawn]

http://www.millerwelds.com/education/video_library/

 

[EZRhino]

Monkeyboy,

There is a really good article on www.BC4x4.com regarding plasma cutters. Oh here it is.

http://www.bc4x4.com/pr/2003/hypertherm/

EZ

 

[RockMonkey]

Monkeyboy,

There is a really good article on www.BC4x4.com regarding plasma cutters. Oh here it is.

http://www.bc4x4.com/pr/2003/hypertherm/


EZ

hmm... Interesting article. So, it explained the process fundamentally different than Ace did. Ace says the arc melts the metal (like an arc welder), but BC4x4 says the arc heats the air, which melts the metal (like a torch). Which is it? The name of the tool suggests that the latter is correct.

 

[RockMonkey]

http://www.millerwelds.com/education/video_library/

Thanks Shawn. The "how plasma cutting works I and II" videos offer some insight. They correlate well with the article on BC4x4.com. Basically, they say a plasma cutter works just like a torch, except instead of using a comustable gas, it uses an electrical arc to superheat compressed air. So, this brings up a couple interesting questions. Why do you place a ground clamp on the metal being cut? In the Miller videos, it depicts the arc happening inside the tip, so why wouldn't it work to run the ground right along the main lead and terminate inside the tip, where the arc is heating the air? Is it a safety feature to ensure that you are only able to cut something you placed the ground clamp on (because the tip has to be in contact, or close enough, to complete the circuit)? Also, in the BC4x4 article it says the plasma is hot enough to burn through any metal, so if the plasma is created inside the tip (as depicted in the miller video) how is it possible that the plasma is directed out the nozzle in a concentrated form? Why doesn't it just burn through the metal nozzle?

 

[muleskinner]

Picture an Arc welder with high pressure Air in the rod.

 

[Tjjeepjunkie]

sounds like everybody pretty much knows how they work but when buying one make sure it has a drag tip or cutting with one can be a pain.

Let me know when or if you buy one and i can get you a good deal.

 

[EZRhino]

hmm... Interesting article. So, it explained the process fundamentally different than Ace did. Ace says the arc melts the metal (like an arc welder), but BC4x4 says the arc heats the air, which melts the metal (like a torch). Which is it? The name of the tool suggests that the latter is correct.

What difference does it make? The point is, the thing works!

Just kidding. So why the sudden interest?

EZ

 

[RockMonkey]

What difference does it make? The point is, the thing works!

Just kidding. So why the sudden interest?

EZ

Eh, I dunno really. I guess I can usually just tell how things work, but the plasma cutter was not as clear. Just curious I guess.

 

[Caleb]

Eh, I dunno really. I guess I can usually just tell how things work, but the plasma cutter was not as clear. Just curious I guess.

you've been playing with the new toy haven't ya

P-cutters are so nice, I think thats why I dont care for cutting things off with grinders and sawzalls because I used to have fee reign of a real nice P-cutter, not now though

 

[RockMonkey]

you've been playing with the new toy haven't ya

P-cutters are so nice, I think thats why I dont care for cutting things off with grinders and sawzalls because I used to have fee reign of a real nice P-cutter, not now though

Yeah, I helped put it together and test it today. Don't want to use a sawzall or cutoff wheel ever again. :-\

 

[Caleb]

Why do they call the tips "consumable"? What happens to them?

BTW thank you, that sounds like a reasonable, and simple explanation.

I dont know if the videos or articles explained it but the tips will kinda get opens up just like a mig tip does after a lot fo use, you will also go through tips a lot faster if there is multiple people using the machine. At my old work if I was the only person using the cutter the tip would last me for a way long time, but if there was a couple people using it (not very often was there more than me using it though) the tips would only last about a week...also if you touch the tip to the steel/material that will cause you to go through tips a lot quicker too...

 

[Hickey]

The tips are consumable in the same way a MIG tip is. Sorta.

The ground clamp helps guide the arc. Without the clamp on, it will ground out through the tip and the arc will wander, and eat your tip.

Oh yeah, I also found out a P-cutter will cut through leather gloves jsut the other day. OUCH!!!!

 

[ace]

Basically the hot arc melts the metal and the compressed air blows it out of the puddle, producing a cut. I've used my inlaw's and its cool.

Hmmn, according to the video, I'm not exactly right, but close