Plasma arc cutting can increase the speed and efficiency of both sheet and
plate metal cutting operations. Manufacturers of transportation and agricultural
equipment, heavy machinery, aircraft components, air handling equipment, and
many other products have discovered its benefits.
Plasma cutters are used in place of traditional sawing, drilling, machining, punching, and cutting. The high-temperature plasma arc cuts through a wide variety of metals at high speeds. Although plasma arc cutting can cut most metals at thicknesses of up to 4 to 6 inches, it provides the greatest economical advantages, speed, and quality on carbon steels under 1 inch thick, and on aluminum and stainless steels under 3 inches thick.
Plasma arc cutting has gained approval in both hand-held and automated cutting operations. Some of the most impressive results are achieved in automated systems. Advances in computer numerical controls (CNC), robots, and other automation techniques have offered manufacturers higher cutting speeds achieved through plasma arc cutting. Improved torch designs and more efficient power supplies have made plasma arc cutting increasingly popular.
New areas of technology in plasma arc cutting systems include non-transferred arc plasma, which allows plastics and other nonconductive materials to be cut. Research on cutting plastics is continuing and at least one commercial process is currently available.
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