Plasma Cutters and the Technology Involved
The plasma cutter has to be the most recent development in the industrial arena. These are the most powerful devices nowadays that you can use to cut metals of any thickness with such tremendous ease. The popularity of plasma is continuing to increase over time and it all started with the plasma TVs. As unrelated as they might sound, plasma is growing to become known as the fourth state of matter. The cutter has proven to be an exceedingly accurate and precise device with lots of merits.
How does it work?
The workings of the plasma cutters are pretty simple to understand. You do not need a doctorate in rocket science to be able to use these devices. Rarely will you need some pre-defined training or skill in order to use this to cut metals. The cutter uses a plasma torch to cut the metals. They are thus faster, more accurate and even economical compared to a host of other metal cutting options available. Perhaps the best part of it all is that you can cut through any thickness of metal without damaging the paint job or warping the metal.
In order for the plasma cutter to work, plasma must be created. This, as aforementioned, is the so-called fourth state of matter. It is basically a substance heated to immense temperatures reaching 15,000 degree Celsius and is usually a gas and liquid at the same time. In order to create the plasma there must be a gas and a heat source as well. Unlike some other metal cutting tools, plasma cutters do not require the use of highly flammable gases such as hydrogen. Instead they use inert gases.
Perhaps now is a good time to mention that this device is used to cut metals that are electrically conductive. The cutting equipment is set up in such a way that it creates an electric circuit together with the metal that is being cut. Therefore, when the end of the plasma torch touches the metal, the circuit is created sparking off a flash through the nozzle of the plasma torch.
This spark will travel to the negative electrode of the torch’s handle and meet up with the rapidly flowing inert gases. When the inert gas comes into contact with the electricity it is heated to high temperatures thus becoming plasma. The nozzle of the torch has a tiny opening through which the plasma surges out onto the surface being cut. The opening being tiny focuses the flow of the plasma causing it to speed up.
Benefits of plasma cutting
For starters the speed of the process is amazing. As stated above, the plasma flows at a high speed thanks to the tiny opening of the torch nozzle. In no time you will be able to complete your metal cutting activities than you would when you use a hacksaw. Secondly, the nozzle helps you to focus the flow of the plasma. This makes it possible to cut metals with such impeccable accuracy. Only lasers can provide such amazing precision. Furthermore, you do not have to rob a bank to purchase a plasma cutter. They come in a variety of sizes to suit your specific needs.
