Frequently Asked Questions About Plasma Cutting

Plasma cutting, while generally easy and efficient, isn’t always as easy as pull and cut. Here, we address some frequently asked questions from our customers.

Q:What type of material can be cut with a plasma cutter?

A:Any electrically-conductive material including steel, stainless steel, copper, and aluminum.

Q:血浆切割器如何工作？

A:An arc of electrical current is emitted from the electrode and combined with swirling gas. It is then focused and directed to the workpiece by a nozzle. The jet of ionized gas is very hot and melts and blows away molten material from the workpiece.

Q:Is plasma cutting difficult?

A:No! An operator with minimal training may learn to use a plasma cutter in just a few minutes.

Q:我什么时候应该更改我的消耗品？

A:You should change the electrode when the emitter pit depth reaches 1mm (2mm for silver electrodes). You should change the nozzle when changing the electrode or when the orifice becomes out of round. The remaining consumables should be changed as needed when they become unserviceable.

Q:Why does the arc from my plasma cutter sometimes turn green?

A:You have exceeded the life of the electrode and the emitter has been depleted. The arc is now being emitted from the copper surrounding the emitter pit and the green color is oxidized copper. Stop cutting immediately and change your electrode and nozzle!

Q:Can the original equipment manufacturer void my warranty for using aftermarket consumables?

A:Absolutely not! The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act prohibits companies from requiring the use of their brand of consumables in order to maintain warranty coverage.

Q:When should I change my coolant?

A:根据您的机器的预防性维护时间表，或者何时被污染或导电。

Q:Is plasma cutting better than oxy-fuel cutting?

A:那要看。在薄材料上，血浆切割更容易学习，更安全，更快。它还可以切割氧气无法的材料，例如铝。然而，在较厚的材料上，氧气燃料通常具有更快的切割速度，并且可以将钢切成比等离子体厚得多。

Q:Can I plasma cut expanded metal or grating?

A:Yes. If your plasma cutting system has a continuous pilot arc mode, you’ll want to engage this feature to cut grating or expanded metal. If not, you’ll have to manually fire the arc each time you move between slats.

Q:Can a plasma cutter be used for gouging?

A:Yes, with the proper torch and consumables. Gouging is a slightly different process than cutting and not every manufacturer offers gouging torches and consumable options.

Q:What is CNC plasma cutting?

A:CNC stands for Computer Numerical Controlled. In CNC plasma cutting, a table and gantry is used and the torch movement and arc initiation is controlled by a program loaded into specialized computer software. CNC plasma cutting allows for the highest degree of quality and repeatability for high volume part production.

If you have further questions aboutplasma cutting，请随时与我们联系。我们很高兴为您回答！