What is a plasma torch?
Plasma, also referred to as ionized gas, is the fourth state of the mass, in addition to commonly known solid, liquid and gas conditions. It is a collection of charged molecules that make up gas clouds or ion beams. Plasma is electrically charged and responds strongly to electromagnetic fields. A plasma burner, also known as a plasma arch or plasma gun, is an electrical device that converts gas into plasma for metal melting.
The plasma burner works by screening the electrical arch produced by polarized electrodes with gas, which is forced by a small hole, a nozzle. When the gas becomes electrically charged, its temperature rises until the gas enters the plasma state. The electric charge is transmitted to a metal that causes melting and high -speed gas cuts the molten material. Nitrogen, oxygen and argon can be used, but the most popular gas is simply forced air. Plasma torch can reduce cheaper, faster and precisely traditional oxy-acetylene marchesň.
Plasma torch can be effective for cutting and welding. As with cutters, plasma welding torches have high speed and high quality power for creating welding seams without pores. These tools come with a standard electric cord, air or gas chamber and a nozzle with an electrode located behind it. A gas source such as an air compressor or packaged air or gas is connected to the torch. For most metals, compressed air is sufficient, although nitrogen or argon can be used to cut stainless steel or other exotic metals.
The automotive and construction industry uses a plasma burner with a numerical computer control (CNC) to create its own automotive shapes needed for the chassis or frames and to reduce large steel beams. The versatility and accuracy of this device makes it a great tool for creating metal arts, jewelry and decorative jellythe work of work. Many CNC torches are large and expensive equipment designed for operation on the assembly line of a large shop such as an automobile factory; However, smaller and more available models are now available for small shops and individual craftsmen.
For applications that do not require CNC, manual units are available at a relatively cheap price. The required pressure capacity varies depending on the size of the plasma burners, so the buyer should choose the torch before determining what size of the air compressor to buy. Spare parts such as air filters, nozzles and electrodes are available from several sources.
Plasma burner, as well as any other energy tool, can cause serious injury unless appropriate safety measures are followed. Plasma torch light can seriously damage the naked eye, so safety glasses with side shields should always be worn. Gloves and fire -resistant clothing can protect them from sparks. These cutters are madeIt does at extremely high temperatures that can burn with gloves, so that the hands should keep away from the nozzle, arch and metal workpiece. In order to prevent fires or explosions, the torch should only be used in well -ventilated areas from any other flammable material.