What is the difference between oxyfuel and plasma cutting?
Both oxyfuel and plasma processes produce different edge qualities in terms of angularity. Plasma cutting produces a lower edge deviation. Angularity is further improved when operators put together the right set of equipment for a comprehensive, integrated plasma system, especially for cutting holes.
What is the difference between plasma arc cutting and gas cutting?
Compared with gas cutting, plasma arc has a faster cutting speed, as shown in Figure 1. It can be seen from Figure 1 that when the sheet thickness b=5, the plasma arc cutting is 3 to 4 times the oxy-fuel cutting speed; when b=15, the speed ratio drops to about two times.
Why can't the cutting speed of oxy-fuel cutting be increased?
Because oxy-fuel cutting is limited by its internal structure and gas physical characteristics, its cutting speed cannot be further increased. In order to meet the needs of the rapid increase in the amount of metal cutting, scientists have worked hard to find ways to increase the cutting speed.
What is a plasma cut?
A plasma cut produces a very narrow heat effected area minimizing warpage . This can be a big advantage when working with sheet metal thicknesses of 3/16” or less. You will need an air compressor and primary power source to run the plasma cutter and air compressor.
What is the difference between oxyfuel acetylene cutting vs plasma cutting processes?
A Plasma Cutter adds energy to a neutral gas, causing it to become imbalanced. This creates a highly precise, powerful energy arc. Oxy Acetylene torches, on the other hand, are fairly straightforward. Oxygen and fuel are used to create a reaction with the work piece, melting it into slag which gets blown away.
How much faster is plasma cutting than oxy-fuel cutting?
On thicker material, oxy-fuel cuts can be much faster than plasma. For example, a 2” thick piece of carbon steel, requiring a 4” long cut would take a 120-A plasma cutter roughly 1 minute to complete the cut, while an oxy-fuel torch could make the same cut in 15-20 seconds.
Is plasma cutting the same as flame cutting?
Plasma arc cutting is another thermal cutting process. However, unlike flame cutting, it uses an electrical arc to ionize and heat a gas to form plasma that is used to cut the material.
What is better than plasma cutter?
Laser's main advantage over plasma is the wide variety of materials it's capable of cutting. In addition to most types of metal, laser cutters can handle wood, glass, ceramic, rubber, PVC, and even leather and textiles.
What are the advantages of plasma cutting?
Key Advantages of Plasma CuttingPlasma cutting is comparatively cheap for medium thickness cuts.High-quality cutting for thicknesses up to 50mm.Maximum thickness of 150mm.Plasma cutting can be carried out on all conductive materials, in contrast to flame cutting which is only suitable for ferrous metals.More items...•
Can a plasma cutter cut anything?
So that means that plasma cutting is only used for materials that are conductive, primarily mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. But lots of other metals and alloys are conductive too, such as copper, brass, titanium, monel, inconel, cast iron, etc.
How thick metal can a plasma cut?
about 1 inchPlasma cutters are used to perform cutting and gouging operations, with the average hand-held system capable of cutting a maximum metal thickness of about 1 inch. Plasma typically requires a source for compressed air and a substantial amount of electrical power.
Will a plasma cutter warp metal?
Thin metal and a plasma cutter is going to equal warping. Like others have already noted, you can minimize it by fine tuning your speed and amp settings but the only way I have found that really makes a difference is using a water table.
How deep can a plasma cutter cut?
Typically, a handheld plasma torch can cut up to 38mm (1.5 inches) thick steel plate. Whereas, if you need something a bit more powerful, an industrial computer-controller torch can cut steel up to 150mm (6 inches) thick. You also need to consider the type of metal that you are cutting.
What gas do you use for plasma cutting?
NitrogenNitrogen is often used for higher current plasma systems and for cutting materials up to 3 inches thick. It produces excellent quality cuts on most materials. Oxygen is used when the highest quality mechanized cuts are desired on carbon steel up to 1 -1/4 inch thick. The cut face is smooth, and dross is easy to remove.
Can a plasma cutter cut granite?
We can cut parts from metal, stone, foam, copper, brass, graphite composites, rubber, granite, plastic and even paper by using our water jet cutting equipment.
Is a water jet better than a plasma cutter?
As material thickness increases, the cut will be less clean as the plasma struggles to melt through all of the material without producing unwanted slag. The water jet is generally considered the more accurate machine and will produce higher quality cuts across a wider range of materials and thicknesses.
Plasma or oxy-fuel cutting: which is best for your job shop?
Plasma or oxy-fuel cutting: which is best for your job shop? It all depends on several factors, including the type of metal you need to cut, thickness of material, and cost. For thicker metals, an oxy-fuel is typically the better way to go, while precision cutting of stainless and aluminum makes plasma the ideal tool.
Plasma Cutting
Plasma cutting uses an electrical channel of superheated, electrically ionized gas, or plasma, which melts the material to cut it. Ideal applications for plasma cutting include steel, brass, copper and other conductive metals.
Oxy-fuel Cutting
Oxyfuel cutting is a thermal cutting process that uses oxygen and fuel gas, such as acetylene, propane, propylene or natural gas, resulting in an intensified chemical reaction within the steel oxidation process that acts rapidly and results in a “cut edge” to cut through materials.
How to Decide?
While each cutting technology has its advantages, the most important factors to consider when choosing between plasma and oxy-fuel are the types of metal your shop cuts most often and the material thicknesses.
What is plasma cutting?
Plasma cutting uses a high-temperature, electrically conductive gas to cut through any material that can conduct electricity. It’s suitable for ferrous and non-ferrous materials, and can also handle metal in any condition – even rusted, painted or grated. It is most commonly used to cut metal between gauge and 2 in. in thickness, though recent advances have led to the introduction of plasma systems that can pierce 3-in.-thick metal and sever metal in excess of 6 in. in thickness.
What is the gas used in oxyfuel cutting?
Oxyfuel cutting heats metal to ignition temperature with an oxygen and fuel gas flame. A chemical (exothermic) reaction between the oxygen and carbon steel creates iron oxide, referred to as slag, which is blown out of the gap by the high pressure of the gases used. Fuel gases include propane, propylene, natural gas and, most commonly, acetylene.
What is the most widely used thermal cutting technology?
Two of the most widely used thermal cutting technologies are oxyfuel and plasma . Although oxyfuel is a tried-and-true method, plasma is a more versatile – and less expensive – alternative with an equally good performance record. Here’s a look at how these two processes compare, beginning with an explanation of how each works.
How fast is plasma?
At a minimum, plasma users can expect speeds that are twice as fast as oxyfuel for metals 1 in. thick or less. As thickness decreases, those speeds increase, enabling speed advantages that are up to 12 times faster than oxyfuel. This increased speed means operators can cut more parts in less time.
What is the downside of oxyfuel?
Fuel gases include propane, propylene, natural gas and, most commonly, acetylene. The major downside to oxyfuel is that it’s only suitable for cutting ferrous metal. It’s not effective on non-ferrous metals, such as aluminum or stainless steel.
Why is oxyfuel dangerous?
When it comes to safety, oxyfuel is at a disadvantage for two reasons. First, it requires a fuel gas; and second, it uses an open flame. The highly flammable nature of fuel gases means proper storage and handling, especially when using acetylene, is critical to prevent accidental fires or explosions.
How thick is a plasma cut?
It is most commonly used to cut metal between gauge and 2 in. in thickness, though recent advances have led to the introduction of plasma systems that can pierce 3-in.-thick metal and sever metal in excess of 6 in. in thickness.
What are the pros and cons of plasma cutting?
Pros and Cons of Plasma Cutting. Plasma cutters are the kings of precision and versatility, plain and simple. A cut made with a plasma cutter is much more precise and leaves as little mess (or slag) as is possible. When you make a cut with a plasma cutter, there’s not much cleanup on the kerf. When it comes to versatility, ...
What is the most powerful cutting method?
Plasma may be precise, but Oxy-Acetylene is far and away the most powerful cutting method. While plasma can cut materials up to a couple of inches, oxy-fuel can cut through materials that are up to two feet thick. When it comes to power, it’s not even close. Of course, the drawback of this increased power is that cuts with oxy-fuel are messier ...
How does oxygen acetylene work?
Oxy-Acetylene is the process of using a high-temperature heat source, usually a torch, to heat metal. Then, oxygen is streamed onto the metal, burning it away as a metal oxide. Meanwhile, plasma cutting cuts through conductive material by using a jet of plasma and an electrical charge. While both cutting methods can usually get the job done, ...
Is plasma rig cheaper than steel?
A plasma rig could wind up being a cheaper investment over time, because clean- up takes time, and the cost of supplies will add up. Additionally, if you need to work with aluminum or stainless steel, plasma is your only option. back to menu ↑.
Do cutting techniques get the job done?
While both cutting methods can usually get the job done, each technique has features that give it an advantage over the other. This makes choosing between the two reliant on the exact job that needs to be done and the things that are important to how you want the job completed.
Can you cut metal with a plasma cutter?
A plasma cutter will allow you to cut shapes, pierce metal, and more. While an Oxy-fuel cutter has its specialties, what puts plasma over the top in versatility is its ability to work on aluminum and stainless steel; an Oxy-fuel cutter won’t get the job done on either of those materials.
What is the advantage of plasma cutting?
When cutting thin metals, heat produced in the oxy-fuel process can cause material to distort. A plasma cut produces a very narrow heat effected area minimizing warpage . This can be a big advantage when working with sheet metal thicknesses of 3/16” or less.
How fast can plasma cut?
Depending on input power and material thickness, plasma cutting speeds can range from 6 to 50+ inches per minute. As material thickness increases, the cutting speed advantage over oxy-fuel systems diminishes. Another significant advantage of plasma is related to warpage.
How much does it cost to run a plasma cutter?
Initial set up cost just for a plasma cutter ranges from $850 - $1,700 depending on the maximum rated cut required. Hobart®’s line of AirForce® plasma cutters can clean cut from 1/8” up to 5/8” thick steel.
Do you need an air compressor for oxy fuel?
They do not require an electrical power source or an air compressor . As a general rule, oxy-fuel cutting is limited to carbon steel but cutting capacity can range from 1/8” to 22” or more . You will need a fuel cylinder and an oxygen cylinder to run an oxy-fuel system anytime, anywhere.
What is oxy fuel cutting?
The oxy-fuel flame cutting method was invented at the beginning of the last century. In the past century, the oxy-fuel cutting materials used for cutting low-carbon steel and alloy steel have been very mature and still occupy an important position in the market. Because oxy-fuel cutting is limited by its internal structure and gas physical characteristics, its cutting speed cannot be further increased. In order to meet the needs of the rapid increase in the amount of metal cutting, scientists have worked hard to find ways to increase the cutting speed. In the mid-1960s, a high-speed oxy-fuel cutting nozzle was invented, which increased the gas cutting speed by 30% to 50%, but it still could not meet the production needs. Therefore, plasma cutting technology has begun to be applied in this field. Due to the high speed and unique advantages of plasma cutting of low carbon steel and alloy steel, it has been highly valued by shipbuilding and automobile manufacturing industries and has been actively promoted. In recent years, various types of plasma cutting have replaced high-speed oxy-fuel cutting for low-carbon steel and alloy steel. In many developed countries, the processing volume of medium and thin plates using plasma cutting machines is close to 50%. With the development of the economy, it is imperative to use air plasma cutting machines to replace flame cutting in the processing of medium and thin plates.
How does oxyfuel cutting work?
In oxy-fuel cutting, the metal is heated by flame, and then oxygen is blown into the heating zone. Oxygen and the hot metal produce a violent oxidation reaction, which generates heat to melt and blow the metal away. This continuous process is oxy-fuel cutting.
What is the processing volume of medium and thin plates?
In many developed countries, the processing volume of medium and thin plates using plasma cutting machines is close to 50%. With the development of the economy, it is imperative to use air plasma cutting machines to replace flame cutting in the processing of medium and thin plates.
What metals can be cut with plasma?
2020-12-08. As a metal material processing equipment, the air plasma cutting machine used to be used for cutting stainless steel and copper, aluminum, and other non-ferrous metal materials. Now it can also be widely used in the processing of low carbon steel, alloy steel, and other materials. Compared with other processing methods, it is more ...
Is oxyfuel cutting more economical than plasma cutting?
Most people think that oxy-fuel cutting is more economical than plasma arc cutting. In fact, it is not. Air plasma cutting machine is used for cutting. As long as the equipment is selected and operated properly, it is also very economical to cut medium and low thickness plates.
Can you cut metal with oxyfuel?
Theory and practice have proved that, except for carbon steel, almost all metal elements cannot melt themselves by the heat released during oxidation, so other materials cannot be cut with oxy-fuel flame.
Is plasma cutting better than flame cutting?
Based on the above, whether it is cutting quality or cutting benefit, the use of air plasma cutting machine for the processing of medium and thin plates is better than oxy-fuel flame cutting. It can be foreseen that as the economy grows stronger, people's thinking changes and the technological transformation of enterprises increases, ...