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Cutting Processes - Plasma Cutting, Stainless Steel Cutting
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Plasma is a cutting process commonly used for profile cutting of stainless steel plates and sheets. Plasma is able to provide a better cut that oxy acetylene and puts less heat stress in the material resulting in less distortion. Plasma cutters can also be used for cutting carbon steel and other conductive materials. Plasma also holds some advantages over laser cutting in that thicker stainless steel can be cut than can be accomplished using laser cutting.
Plasma cutters work by sending a pressurized gas, such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen, through a small channel. In the centre of this channel, you'll find a negatively charged electrode. When you apply power to the negative electrode, and you touch the tip of the nozzle to the metal, the connection creates a circuit. A powerful spark is generated between the electrode and the metal. As the inert gas passes through the channel, the spark heats the gas until it reaches the fourth state of matter. This reaction creates a stream of directed plasma, approximately 30,000 F (16,649 C) and moving at 20,000 feet per second (6,096 m/sec), that reduces metal to molten slag.
The plasma itself conducts electrical current. The cycle of creating the arc is continuous as long as power is supplied to the electrode and the plasma stays in contact with the metal that is being cut. In order to ensure this contact, protect the cut from oxidation and regulate the unpredictable nature of plasma, the cutter nozzle has a second set of channels. These channels release a constant flow of shielding gas around the cutting area. The pressure of this gas flow effectively controls the radius of the plasma beam.
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