Conventional Plasma Cutting
- Generally uses a single gas (usually air or nitrogen) that both cools and produces the plasma
- Most of these systems are rated at 100 Amps or less for cutting materials up to 5/8” thick
Dual Gas Plasma Cutting
- Process uses two gases; one for plasma and one as shield gas
- Shield gas used to guard cut area from atmosphere, giving a cleaner cut edge.
- Most widely used variation as many different gas combinations can be used to produce optimal cut quality
Water Shield Plasma Cutting
- Variation of dual gas process where water is substituted for shield gas
- Produces improved nozzle and work piece cooling along with improved cut quality on stainless steel
- Process is for mechanized applications only
Water Injection Plasma Cutting
- Uses single gas for plasma and water (either radially or swirl-injected directly int
o arc) to improve arc constriction; arc density and temperatures increase - Process used for 260-750 amps achieving optimal edge quality for many materials and thicknesses
- Process is for mechanized applications only
Precision Plasma Cutting
- Process yields superior cut quality on thinner materials (less than ½”) at slower speeds. Improved quality results from using the latest technology to further
constrict the arc, drastically increasing energy density - Slower speeds needed to allow the motion device to contour more accurately
- Process is for mechanized applications only
For more information from Hypertherm on Plasma cutting, click here.
