Plasma cutting process

Plasma cutting process uses high power plasma to cut metals. It uses ions of very high temperature to remove material. The commonly used gases in plasma cutting are nitrogen, hydrogen or compressed air, argon hydrogen. It can cut variety of materials like stainless steel, non-ferrous metals, carbon, alloy steels, cast iron, aluminum and magnesium.

There are many types of torches that are used in plasma cutting process namely

1) Direct arc type

2) Indirect arc type.

In direct arc type of torches the electrode is connected to negative and the workpiece is connected to the positive. More electrical energy is been transferred so more heat is used to heat the work material. Direct arc type of torches are of very high efficiency and hence preferred for cutting, welding, metal removal and metal deposition processes.

In indirect type of plasma torch the electrode is connected to the negative and the nozzle is connected to the positive. The main application of this process is the machining of difficult to machine as well as non conductive materials with ease.

In the process of dual flow plasma cutting the same features like the conventional process is employed with the change that the secondary shielding  gas is added around the nozzle. Usually the cutting gas that is employed is the nitrogen and the secondary shielding gas depends on the material that is been cut.

For instance if the material that is to be cut is mild steel then the commonly used ones are air or oxygen as it provides good efficiency in the process. If the material is aluminum then argon mixture is commonly employed. If it is stainless steel then the material is carbon-di-oxide.