How do you use a plasma air cutter?

How do you use a plasma air cutter?

How to Use a Plasma Cutter

1. Step 1: Choose Work Location.
2. Step 2: Plug in Unit.
3. Step 3: Connect the Air.
4. Step 4: Turn the Air On.
5. Step 5: Attach the Ground Clamp.
6. Step 6: Turn on the Machine.
7. Step 7: Set the Current.
8. Step 8: Cut the Metal.

What kind of gas do you use with a plasma cutter?

Compressed Air is the most commonly used gas for lower current plasma cutting and works well for most metals from gauge thickness to 1 inch. It leaves an oxidized cut surface. Compressed air can also be used for plasma gouging on carbon steel.

Is a plasma cutter hard to use?

The idea behind a plasma cutter is to cut tough-to-manipulate metal using very high temperatures that turn gas into plasma. Even though there are a lot of intense reactions and very high temperatures forming inside a plasma cutter, the user’s part is relatively easy.

Does plasma cutter use gas?

Plasma cutters work by sending an electric arc through a gas that is passing through a constricted opening. The gas can be shop air, nitrogen, argon, oxygen. etc. The gas is also directed around the perimeter of the cutting area to shield the cut.

Can a plasma cutter cut wood?

Virtually any metal can be plasma cut including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, etc. Plastics and wood are not electrically conductive and cannot be plasma cut. However, you can use a rotary saw, router, or other tool if you want to cut these materials in the PlasmaCAM machine.

What is needed to run a plasma cutter?

Plasma cutting requires two basic elements — air and electricity — so the next question to ask is what type of input power is available. Several 30-amp plasma cutters, such as the Spectrum® 375 X-TREME™, operate using 120- or 240-volt power.

Does a plasma cutter require gas?

Gas is needed for a plasma cutter in order for it to work and create the plasma. As mentioned, the most popular gases to use are oxygen, nitrogen or argon. Nitrogen is the best choice when it comes to cutting aluminium and stainless steel and it can provide an excellent cut quality.

Do you need shielding gas for plasma cutter?

Yes. All plasma cutting systems—including air plasma cutters—use gas. In addition to using one type of gas, many fabricators choose plasma systems with “dual-gas” or “multi-gas” capability. This means that a variety of plasma and shield gases can be used for various applications.

Can a plasma cutter cut your finger off?

The way a plasma cutter works means it most likely won’t melt your finger off if you torched the plasma over it. However, it would do severe damage if your finger was underneath the metal you were cutting, due to the extreme heat that passes below the metal being cut. It has some serious heat.

Can you cut wood with a plasma cutter?

What is plasma cutting and how can I use it?

Plasma cutting is a process that cuts through electrically conductive materials by means of an accelerated jet of hot plasma. Typical materials cut with a plasma torch include steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass and copper, although other conductive metals may be cut as well. Plasma cutting is often used in fabrication shops, automotive repair and restoration, industrial construction, and salvage and scrapping operations . Due to the high speed and precision cuts combined with low cost, plasm

What is the best plasma cutter for the money?

The Hypertherm Powermax 45 is the best plasma cutter on the market in 2019. Hypertherm has been building high-quality equipment for decades. Their reputation rests solidly on their product’s ability to do exactly what they say it will.

What type of gas is used for a plasma cutter?

Plasma cutters work by sending a pressurized gas, such as nitrogen, argon, or oxygen, through a small channel. In the center of this channel, you’ll find a negatively charged electrode. When you apply power to the negative electrode, and you touch the tip of the nozzle to the metal, the connection creates a circuit.

How hot does a plasma cutter actually get?

So just how hot can plasma cutters get? based on some measurements, they can get as hot as 45,000 degrees Fahrenheit, or 25,000 degrees Celsius. Intellectually, you know that the temperature required to cut into such tremendously strong materials has to be high.