OxyFuel Cutting Equipment and Operations
Cutting equipment and operations for oxyfuel cutter machine
Guide to Plasma Arc Cutters
Plasma arc cutting guide and equipment
How Does the Oxy-fuel Cutting Process Work?
Information on Oxyfuel cutting
Oxyfuel gas cutting uses the high-temperature flame to heat the surface of a piece of steel to a point where a forceful stream of oxygen flowing out a center hole in the tip causes the hot steel to burn away, leaving a gap or cut. Also referred to as oxyfuel flame cutting and oxyfuel gas cutting.
Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) uses a stiff, highly ionized, extremely hot column of gas to almost instantly vaporize the metal being cut.
Arc plasma is defined as gas that has been heated to at least a partially ionized condition, enabling it to conduct an electric current.1 The term plasma arc is the term most often used in the welding industry when referring to the arc plasma used in welding and cutting processes.
Plasma torch is a device that allows the creation and control of the plasma for welding or cutting processes
The torch body is made of a special plastic that is resistant to high temperatures, ultraviolet light, and impact. It provides a good grip area and protects the cable and hose connections to the head.
The torch head is attached to the torch body where the cables and hoses attach to the electrode tip, nozzle tip, and nozzle. Torches are available with heads that are fixed at a 75° angle, 90° angle, or an 180° angle (straight), or they may have a flexible head that can be adjusted to any desired angle.
Most handheld torches have a manual power switch that is used to start and stop the power source, gas, and cooling water (if used).
The electrode is often made of copper with a tungsten electrode tip attached.
Most small shop plasma arc cutting torches use compressed air to form the plasma and to make the cut
The gas hose carries compressed air from the plasma machine to the torch and is made of a special plastic that is resistant to heat and ultraviolet light
The control wire is a two-conductor, low-voltage, stranded copper wire that connects the power switch to the power supply. This will allow you to start and stop the plasma power and gas as needed during the cut.
Power Requirements for Plasma Arc Cutting
Voltage: The production of the plasma requires a direct-current (DC), high-voltage, power supply. The voltage for a plasma arc process ranges from 50 to 200 volts closed circuit and 150 to 400 volts open circuit.
Amperage: Although the voltage is higher, the amperage is much lower than it is with most other welding processes. The higher the amperage capacity, the faster and thicker they will cut.
Watts: The plasma process uses approximately the same amount of power, in watts, as a similar nonplasma process. Watts used in a circuit are determined by multiplying the voltage times the amperage.
The plasma arc cutting process can produce very high cutting rates when an automated process is used. However, most manual plasma arc cutting speeds are around 10 in. per minute.
Equipment for Oxyfuel Cutting Machine:
Oxygen regulator
Acetylene regulator
Oxygen/Acetylene welding hose
Hose couplings
Single-purpose oxyfuel cutting torch
Cylinders and cart
Flash arrestor and check vales (protective equipment)
Flint lighter to ignite torch
Oxyfuel Cutting Gas Types
Common fuel gas types include acetylene, MAPP, propane and natural gas.
Oxyfuel gas cutting is used to cut iron base alloys. Low carbon steels (up to 0.3% carbon) are easy to cut. High nickel steels, cast iron, and stainless steel are considered uncuttable with OCF-A. Most nonferrous metals—such as brass, copper, and aluminum—cannot be cut by oxyacetylene cutting.
here are four basic requirements for oxy-fuel cutting:
