Plasma Arc Cutting Torch

Another very common thermal cutting technique is plasma arc cutting.

Plasma arc cutting torch.

The super heated plasma jet is focused through a constricted orifice or tip which directs the arc to the work piece. Typical materials cut with a plasma torch include steel stainless steel aluminum brass and copper although other conductive metals may be cut as well. The plasma jet can be used for applications including plasma cutting plasma arc welding plasma spraying and plasma gasification for waste disposal. A plasma cutter will use this electrically conductive gas to transfer energy from a power supply to any conductive material resulting in a cleaner faster cutting process than with oxyfuel.

Plasma cutting is a process that cuts through electrically conductive materials by means of an accelerated jet of hot plasma. The plasma arc formation begins when a gas such as oxygen nitrogen argon or even shop air is forced through a small nozzle orifice inside the torch. This process is based on an electrical arc between an electrode inside a torch and the workpiece. Plasma arc cutting also referred to as plasma fusion cutting or plasma cutting is a fabrication process which employs superheated ionized gas funneled through a plasma torch to heat melt and ultimately cut electrically conductive material into custom shapes and designs.