How plasma cutters work:

Plasma cutters are used to cut metal using a melting torch. The plasma cutters have become a tool of choice today for many. The fourth state of matter, i.e, plasma is used for this process. Plasma is basically superheated gas and steam at the same time. The heat of the plasma will range over 15,000 degrees. You typically need two things if you want to create plasma which is, gas and a heat source. The plasma guns available today use inert gas to create the plasma when combined with electricity. Often compressed air is used to create the plasma. The plasma cutting equipment is set up in such a way that it creates an eclectic circuit with the gas and the metal.

Normally the plasma gun is used to cut conducting metals. When we bring the nozzle and the metal in contact, a spark is created which will flash from the nozzle. This spark will travel to the negative electrode of the torch and meet the flowing inert gasses and forms plasma raising the temperature of to over 15000 degrees. The tiny opening in the plasma gun will concentrate this plasma on to the metal and force it out at high speed. The speed and the temperature will enable the plasma to cut through the metal.

The plasma cutting requires an electric circuit. Therefore it can easily cut through any metal that conducts electricity. There are two methods that can be applied for plasma cutting. The first is the high frequency contact. This method is normally used for low budget equipment. This is because this method cannot be used for computer numeric plasma operations. This method employs high voltage high electricity spark to make sure that the plasma is created. The spark is fired into the torch head and the plasma is created.

The second method is known as the pilot arc method. This method produces the cutting plasma in two cycles. Inside the body of the torch, a high voltage circuit will create a high intensity spark. This spark will create a small volume of plasma which will form the pilot arc. This pilot

arc will remain static till it is touched on the metal to be cut. At this point of contact, the pilot arc will meet the main flow of gas which will create the bigger arc. Using this arc the plasma cutting operation will begin. These cutters can be used to make precise cuts on metals of varied thickness. Also the cuts that are made are sharp and clean. Most of these machines are controlled by a computer and hence the cuts will be very precise. This is perfect for repetitive projects in large scale industrial works.

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