Plasma fusion cutting

The plasma cutting is one of the thermal separation methods and allows the user to precisely cut sheets. The widespread method uses the thermal and kinetic energy of a plasma gas stream for liquefying and blowing out the material.
The plasma cutting is used, in particular, when the material cannot be severed or only partially by conventional combustion cutting. The typical areas of application include cutting sheets of high-alloy steel, aluminium or copper. The method is distinguished by high cutting speeds, post-processing cuts, low heat input and low investment costs.

Technical foundations for plasma cutting

Plasma cutting is an energy-intensive process which, in its basics, is comparable to the various variants of arc welding. In addition to a power source with high voltage supply, plasma cutting systems are equipped with a power supply line, a compressed air line, a ground cable, a handpiece and a plasma cutting nozzle. In addition, a cooling medium is usually used for discharging the heat produced.

The cutting process is explained in detail below using the example of direct plasma cutting: At the gas- or water-cooled nozzle, the main arc is tightly constricted. This significantly increases the energy density and raises the arc temperature to around 30,000°C with a high exit velocity. Thanks to these process parameters, it is possible to cut sheets of up to 160mm thickness at high speed, depending on the material.

When and where is plasma cutting used?

Plasma cutting is predominantly used in the metal processing industry for processing electrically conductive materials. The method is particularly popular when cutting steel, stainless steel, brass, aluminum and copper. It is used, for example, in the following industries:

What are the differences to similar procedures?

Plasma cutting is comparable in its basics with similar thermal separation methods as autogen cutting and Laser cutting.

The plasma cutting essentially differs from the autogen cutting or burning cutting by the shape of the material removal. While autogen cutting burns the material by using highly pure oxygen and a special fuel gas, a plasma gas is used for liquefying the material during plasma welding. Plasma cutting achieves a higher accuracy than autogen cutting at material thicknesses below 160mm.

Laser cutting was developed after plasma cutting and is based on the generation of a high-energy laser beam for cutting the material. In contrast to plasma welding, the laser cutting can be applied to all conceivable materials and achieves the material removal by melting, burning or evaporation, depending on the method variant. Although laser cutting achieves a higher accuracy than plasma cutting, it is limited with respect to the cutting thickness.

Find companies for plasma cutting

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