{"id":31957,"date":"2020-10-06T14:07:04","date_gmt":"2020-10-06T14:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.expondo.co.uk\/inspirations\/plasma-cutting-a-modern-method-of-metal-processing\/"},"modified":"2024-09-11T07:51:37","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T07:51:37","slug":"plasma-cutting-a-modern-method-of-metal-processing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/plasma-cutting-a-modern-method-of-metal-processing\/","title":{"rendered":"Plasma cutting &#8211; a modern method of metal processing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Before metal plates, railings, pipes and other common metal elements are processed, they are often cut to size. In addition to mechanical and manual methods using flexible or sheet metal cutting tools, plasma cutting is also an option.&nbsp;A plasma metal cutter&nbsp;can be used to quickly and precisely cut thick layers of metal using high temperatures. The cutter allows you to work in&nbsp;even&nbsp;tight or narrow spaces, letting you process metal in virtually any position.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-44058cec-d7d7-48d5-b49d-3deabf8014b1\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\"\n                    data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\">\n                    <div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column \"><ul><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/plasma-cutting-a-modern-method-of-metal-processing\/#0-plasma-cutting-%E2%80%93-how-does-it-work->Plasma cutting \u2013 how does it work?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/plasma-cutting-a-modern-method-of-metal-processing\/#1-which-metals-is-plasma-cutting-good-for->Which metals is plasma&nbsp;cutting&nbsp;good for?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/plasma-cutting-a-modern-method-of-metal-processing\/#2-other-than-compressed-air-does-plasma-cutting-require-any-other-gas->Other than compressed air, does plasma cutting require any other gas?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/plasma-cutting-a-modern-method-of-metal-processing\/#3-what-should-you-watch-out-for-when-working-with-compressed-air->What should you watch out for when working with compressed air?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/plasma-cutting-a-modern-method-of-metal-processing\/#4-safety-measures-during-plasma-cutting->Safety measures during plasma cutting<\/a><\/li><li><a href=https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/plasma-cutting-a-modern-method-of-metal-processing\/#5-what-should-you-pay-attention-to-when-buying-a-plasma-cutter->What should you pay attention to when buying a plasma&nbsp;cutter?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-plasma-cutting-%E2%80%93-how-does-it-work-\"><strong>Plasma cutting \u2013 how does it work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plasma Cutters by Stamos Germany and the Stamos Germany Pro Series | Products presentation\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/G3laWpMMV-A?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Cutting with plasma&nbsp;requires a source of compressed air, such as a compressor. Some cutters have built-in compressors, enabling use without an external source of compressed air.&nbsp;After the arc is struck, the compressed air creates a plasma arc capable of cutting thick layers of metal at temperatures as high as 30000\u00b0C. The plasma arc passes through a nozzle cooled by gas or water, which accumulates the energy needed to melt metal. The strength of the plasma arc depends&nbsp;mainly&nbsp;on the current. The higher the intensity, the deeper the indentation in the metal layer (from 0.5 mm to 160 mm).&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Compressed air not only creates plasma and cools the ceramic burner nozzle, but also stops the cutter from sticking to the metal. The&nbsp;plasma cutter&nbsp;compressor blows into the groove so that the&nbsp;hot molten&nbsp;metal does not settle on the weld and the groove itself prevents it from sticking back together. The plasma arc creates a V-shaped gap.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to obtain a rectangular cut, you should use a plasma cutter with a narrower inlet. Machines intended for high-precision metal cutting are often used&nbsp;in&nbsp;industrial construction. Advanced nozzle systems built into plasma cutters are responsible for transferring gases such as oxygen (O2), which are commonly used to process structural steel. For&nbsp;plasma cutting&nbsp;stainless steel, a mixture of argon and hydrogen (Ar\/H2), or nitrogen (N2), can be used. In addition to&nbsp;more accurate cuts, the cutters also allow for&nbsp;cleaner&nbsp;edges and higher cutting speed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-which-metals-is-plasma-cutting-good-for-\"><strong>Which metals is plasma&nbsp;cutting&nbsp;good for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/plasma-cutters\/\">plasma cutter<\/a> can help you easily cut conductive metals, such as steel, aluminium&nbsp;or copper. The auxiliary arc between the nozzle and the electrode is activated first, with a high-frequency ignition. The auxiliary arc is charged with relatively little power, but when it touches the metal being processed, the power automatically increases to a sufficient value for cutting. In addition to simple metal surfaces, the auxiliary arc is used for cutting metal netting and even fences. It does not need to be in constant contact with the welded&nbsp;item.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n              <div id=\"expondo-products-block_333b2b855af650e5f7a9576dc2ddc3b3\" class=\"expondo-block expondo-block--products\">\n          <div class=\"expondo-block__inner-container\">\n            <ul class=\"list list--products\">\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/stamos-pro-series-plasma-cutter-60-a-400-v-10020004\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020004_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/stamos-pro-series-plasma-cutter-60-a-400-v-10020004\">\n                        Plasma Cutter &#8211; 60 A &#8211; 400 V                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/stamos-basic-plasma-cutter-50-a-230-v-basic-10020007\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020007_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/stamos-basic-plasma-cutter-50-a-230-v-basic-10020007\">\n                        Plasma Cutter &#8211; 50 A &#8211; 230 V &#8211; Basic                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/stamos-power-2-plasma-cutter-with-compressor-40-a-ed-60-digital-230-v-10021267\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10021267_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/stamos-power-2-plasma-cutter-with-compressor-40-a-ed-60-digital-230-v-10021267\">\n                        Plasma cutter with compressor &#8211; 40 A &#8211; ED 60% &#8211; Digital &#8211; 230 V                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-cnc-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020078\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020078_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-cnc-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020078\">\n                        CNC Plasma Cutter &#8211; 125 A &#8211; 400 V &#8211; pilot arc ignition                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>922.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-other-than-compressed-air-does-plasma-cutting-require-any-other-gas-\"><strong>Other than compressed air, does plasma cutting require any other gas?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Compressed air is usually sufficient for conventional plasma cutting. However, additional secondary gases can be used, which should then be adapted to the metal being processed. The so-called &#8220;rectangularity&#8221; of the surface to be cut can be improved by integrating certain gases into the cycle. The chemical properties of plasma cutting gas can significantly influence the quality of the cut\u2019s edges and determine the level of effort required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-what-should-you-watch-out-for-when-working-with-compressed-air-\"><strong>What should you watch out for when working with compressed air?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The pressure of the air is crucial, usually in the range of 4 to 5.5 bar. In addition to the appropriate pressure, the compressor must also provide the required amount of air. However, this depends on the type of&nbsp;cutter. For example, the Stamos S-Plasma-85H model requires 175 l\/m. This is the minimum value required to keep it running at the right speed. For&nbsp;optimal configuration of the plasma cutter, it is equipped with a pressure gauge and pressure reducer. Sometimes they are&nbsp;equipped with built-in compressors. The compressed air supply is then automatically adjusted to the cutting process, so there is no need to adjust the pressure manually.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n        <div id=\"block_158a6a0ec8bfd2fc460b60f4a702fb95\" class=\"wpmagus-block expondo-block expondo-block-photo-with-hotspots\">\n          <div\n            class=\"wpmagus-block__inner-container expondo-block__inner-container photo-with-hotspots-container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020044-6-1088x725.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020044-6-1088x725.jpg 1088w, https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020044-6-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020044-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020044-6-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020044-6.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>            <ul class=\"list list--hotspots\">\n                              <li class=\"item\" style=\"left: 67.00%; top: 76.00%;\">\n                  <button class=\"hotspot\"\n                    style=\"background-color: #dd3333\"\n                    >+<\/button>\n                  <div class=\"description\" style=\"position:relative;z-index:10;padding:24px;\">\n                                          <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-85-a-400-v-pilot-arc-10020044\"\n                        style=\"position: absolute;width:100%;height:100%;\"><\/a>\n                      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020044_photo_1\">\n                      <strong class=\"title\"><a\n                          href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-85-a-400-v-pilot-arc-10020044\">\n                          Plasma Cutter &#8211; 85 A &#8211; 400 V &#8211; pilot arc ignition<\/a>\n                      <\/strong>\n                      <a style=\"text-decoration: underline;display:block;color:#000;font-size:1.4rem;font-weight:600;margin-top:84px;\"\n                        href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-85-a-400-v-pilot-arc-10020044\/\">Buy now<\/a>\n                                                                                  <span class=\"price\">        <ins>589.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n<\/span>\n                                      <\/div>\n                <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n                          <div class=\"description description--mob\"\n                style=\"display: none!important;position: relative; z-index: 10;transform: translateY(-50%);margin: 0 10%;padding: 2rem;border-radius: 8px;\">\n                                  <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-85-a-400-v-pilot-arc-10020044\"\n                    style=\"position: absolute;width:100%;height:100%;\"><\/a>\n                  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020044_photo_1\">\n                  <strong class=\"title\"><a\n                      href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-85-a-400-v-pilot-arc-10020044\">Plasma Cutter &#8211; 85 A &#8211; 400 V &#8211; pilot arc ignition<\/a><\/strong>\n                  <a style=\"text-decoration: underline;display:block;color:#000;font-size:1.4rem;font-weight:600;margin-top:84px;\"\n                    href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-85-a-400-v-pilot-arc-10020044\">Buy now<\/a>\n                                                                  <span class=\"price\">        <ins>589.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n<\/span>\n                              <\/div>\n                      <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n        <div id=\"block_5f67696986c47d7715a3cdd26a95f34e\" class=\"wpmagus-block expondo-block expondo-block-photo-with-hotspots\">\n          <div\n            class=\"wpmagus-block__inner-container expondo-block__inner-container photo-with-hotspots-container\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020067-5-1088x725.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020067-5-1088x725.jpg 1088w, https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020067-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020067-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020067-5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/10020067-5.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>            <ul class=\"list list--hotspots\">\n                              <li class=\"item\" style=\"left: 34.00%; top: 57.00%;\">\n                  <button class=\"hotspot\"\n                    style=\"background-color: #dd3333\"\n                    >+<\/button>\n                  <div class=\"description\" style=\"position:relative;z-index:10;padding:24px;\">\n                                          <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020067\"\n                        style=\"position: absolute;width:100%;height:100%;\"><\/a>\n                      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020067_photo_1\">\n                      <strong class=\"title\"><a\n                          href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020067\">\n                          Plasma Cutter &#8211; 125 A &#8211; 400 V &#8211; pilot arc ignition<\/a>\n                      <\/strong>\n                      <a style=\"text-decoration: underline;display:block;color:#000;font-size:1.4rem;font-weight:600;margin-top:84px;\"\n                        href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020067\/\">Buy now<\/a>\n                                                                                  <span class=\"price\">        <ins>870.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n<\/span>\n                                      <\/div>\n                <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n                          <div class=\"description description--mob\"\n                style=\"display: none!important;position: relative; z-index: 10;transform: translateY(-50%);margin: 0 10%;padding: 2rem;border-radius: 8px;\">\n                                  <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020067\"\n                    style=\"position: absolute;width:100%;height:100%;\"><\/a>\n                  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020067_photo_1\">\n                  <strong class=\"title\"><a\n                      href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020067\">Plasma Cutter &#8211; 125 A &#8211; 400 V &#8211; pilot arc ignition<\/a><\/strong>\n                  <a style=\"text-decoration: underline;display:block;color:#000;font-size:1.4rem;font-weight:600;margin-top:84px;\"\n                    href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020067\">Buy now<\/a>\n                                                                  <span class=\"price\">        <ins>870.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n<\/span>\n                              <\/div>\n                      <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-safety-measures-during-plasma-cutting-\"><strong>Safety measures during plasma cutting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Plasma cutters make cutting metal relatively quick and easy. However, before starting any work, you should&nbsp;pay attention to&nbsp;a few safety measures&nbsp;with regards&nbsp;to the high temperatures and voltage inside the equipment.&nbsp;Above all, you should wear appropriate protective clothing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;face shield&nbsp;is necessary to protect against sparks and bright arches, and let you get close to the cuts you are making, despite weakened visibility, ensuring maximum control and precision. You can also use protective helmets as worn by most welders. Welding helmets should always be held with one hand, which is a bit of a drawback.&nbsp;However, they are&nbsp;absolutely essential&nbsp;when welding objects that require constant attention.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wearing welding gloves is also important, not only because of the sparks, but&nbsp;mainly&nbsp;because of the powerful heat. When making plasma cuts, touching the&nbsp;work piece&nbsp;with your bare hands can be very dangerous! Additionally, you should wear a welding apron to protect yourself&nbsp;from the sparks&nbsp;and hot metal. Pay special attention to the environment and the surroundings, and store flammable materials and substances at a safe distance. In public areas, passers-by are also exposed to the dangers of welding, such as direct visual contact with the welding arc. A protective wall separating the workplace from the surrounding area will help prevent this.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-what-should-you-pay-attention-to-when-buying-a-plasma-cutter-\"><strong>What should you pay attention to when buying a plasma&nbsp;cutter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plasma Cutters S-CUTTER SERIES by Stamos Power | Products presentation\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KFzTweaNX9Y?list=PLdt0HdJTyeSVAzlGfFyQp3wr7M0jkQ2Cu\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>You can choose between 400V&nbsp;and&nbsp;230V.&nbsp;Cutters&nbsp;with 400V allow for plasma cutting with a higher current and processing thicker sheets. However, not all plug sockets will support 400V. Plasma cutters with a voltage of 230V can be more practical because of the standard voltage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cutters with cables at least 8 metres long are much more&nbsp;convenient to work with,&nbsp;compared to those&nbsp;with 4 metre cables. This can positively influence the quality of work on large&nbsp;items, whether in the shipbuilding industry or on a&nbsp;building&nbsp;site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plasma cutters often have other integrated functions that can also be used for welding, allowing you to work with one device instead of two.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n              <div id=\"expondo-products-block_11cb29c5f877d742c2773b1c161257eb\" class=\"expondo-block expondo-block--products\">\n          <div class=\"expondo-block__inner-container\">\n            <ul class=\"list list--products\">\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/stamos-power-2-plasma-cutter-90-a-400-v-10020129\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020129_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/stamos-power-2-plasma-cutter-90-a-400-v-10020129\">\n                        Plasma Cutter &#8211; 90 A &#8211; 400 V                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/stamos-pro-series-plasma-cutter-80-a-400-v-10020005\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020005_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/stamos-pro-series-plasma-cutter-80-a-400-v-10020005\">\n                        Plasma Cutter &#8211; 80 A &#8211; 400 V                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                                          <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-85-a-400-v-pilot-arc-10020044\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020044_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-85-a-400-v-pilot-arc-10020044\">\n                        Plasma Cutter &#8211; 85 A &#8211; 400 V &#8211; pilot arc ignition                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>589.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                              <li class=\"item\">\n                  <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020067\">\n                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.expondo.com\/asset\/product_photos\/10020067_photo_1\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"image\" \/>\n                  <\/a>\n                  <strong class=\"title\">\n                    <a href=\"\/stamos-selection-plasma-cutter-125-a-400-v-pilot-arc-ignition-10020067\">\n                        Plasma Cutter &#8211; 125 A &#8211; 400 V &#8211; pilot arc ignition                    <\/a>\n                  <\/strong>\n\n                                      <span class=\"price\">\n                              <ins>870.00&nbsp;\u20ac<\/ins>\n                    <\/span>\n                                  <\/li>\n                          <\/ul>\n          <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Before metal plates, railings, pipes and other common metal elements are processed, they are often cut&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":31958,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_sb_is_suggestion_mode":false,"_sb_show_suggestion_boards":false,"_sb_show_comment_boards":false,"_sb_suggestion_history":"","_sb_update_block_changes":"","ub_ctt_via":"","rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_strive_post_notes":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3035],"tags":[],"promotion":[],"class_list":["post-31957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-welding-en-ie"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/plasma-cutter-e1603715665932.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Arthur Schmidt von Happe","author_link":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/author\/arthur-schmidt-von-happe\/"},"reading_time":"","author_thumbnail":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/fef8dea179aa33abd7705f9e6a9a92b6?s=96&d=mm&r=g","excerpt_full":"\n<p><strong>Before metal plates, railings, pipes and other common metal elements are processed, they are often cut to size. In addition to mechanical and manual methods using flexible or sheet metal cutting tools, plasma cutting is also an option.&nbsp;A plasma metal cutter&nbsp;can be used to quickly and precisely cut thick layers of metal using high temperatures. The cutter allows you to work in&nbsp;even&nbsp;tight or narrow spaces, letting you process metal in virtually any position.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-plasma-cutting-%E2%80%93-how-does-it-work-\"><strong>Plasma cutting \u2013 how does it work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Compressed air not only creates plasma and cools the ceramic burner nozzle, but also stops the cutter from sticking to the metal. The&nbsp;plasma cutter&nbsp;compressor blows into the groove so that the&nbsp;hot molten&nbsp;metal does not settle on the weld and the groove itself prevents it from sticking back together. The plasma arc creates a V-shaped gap.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to obtain a rectangular cut, you should use a plasma cutter with a narrower inlet. Machines intended for high-precision metal cutting are often used&nbsp;in&nbsp;industrial construction. Advanced nozzle systems built into plasma cutters are responsible for transferring gases such as oxygen (O2), which are commonly used to process structural steel. For&nbsp;plasma cutting&nbsp;stainless steel, a mixture of argon and hydrogen (Ar\/H2), or nitrogen (N2), can be used. In addition to&nbsp;more accurate cuts, the cutters also allow for&nbsp;cleaner&nbsp;edges and higher cutting speed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-which-metals-is-plasma-cutting-good-for-\"><strong>Which metals is plasma&nbsp;cutting&nbsp;good for?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/plasma-cutters\/\">plasma cutter<\/a> can help you easily cut conductive metals, such as steel, aluminium&nbsp;or copper. The auxiliary arc between the nozzle and the electrode is activated first, with a high-frequency ignition. The auxiliary arc is charged with relatively little power, but when it touches the metal being processed, the power automatically increases to a sufficient value for cutting. In addition to simple metal surfaces, the auxiliary arc is used for cutting metal netting and even fences. It does not need to be in constant contact with the welded&nbsp;item.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-other-than-compressed-air-does-plasma-cutting-require-any-other-gas-\"><strong>Other than compressed air, does plasma cutting require any other gas?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Compressed air is usually sufficient for conventional plasma cutting. However, additional secondary gases can be used, which should then be adapted to the metal being processed. The so-called \"rectangularity\" of the surface to be cut can be improved by integrating certain gases into the cycle. The chemical properties of plasma cutting gas can significantly influence the quality of the cut\u2019s edges and determine the level of effort required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-what-should-you-watch-out-for-when-working-with-compressed-air-\"><strong>What should you watch out for when working with compressed air?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The pressure of the air is crucial, usually in the range of 4 to 5.5 bar. In addition to the appropriate pressure, the compressor must also provide the required amount of air. However, this depends on the type of&nbsp;cutter. For example, the Stamos S-Plasma-85H model requires 175 l\/m. This is the minimum value required to keep it running at the right speed. For&nbsp;optimal configuration of the plasma cutter, it is equipped with a pressure gauge and pressure reducer. Sometimes they are&nbsp;equipped with built-in compressors. The compressed air supply is then automatically adjusted to the cutting process, so there is no need to adjust the pressure manually.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-safety-measures-during-plasma-cutting-\"><strong>Safety measures during plasma cutting<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Plasma cutters make cutting metal relatively quick and easy. However, before starting any work, you should&nbsp;pay attention to&nbsp;a few safety measures&nbsp;with regards&nbsp;to the high temperatures and voltage inside the equipment.&nbsp;Above all, you should wear appropriate protective clothing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A&nbsp;face shield&nbsp;is necessary to protect against sparks and bright arches, and let you get close to the cuts you are making, despite weakened visibility, ensuring maximum control and precision. You can also use protective helmets as worn by most welders. Welding helmets should always be held with one hand, which is a bit of a drawback.&nbsp;However, they are&nbsp;absolutely essential&nbsp;when welding objects that require constant attention.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wearing welding gloves is also important, not only because of the sparks, but&nbsp;mainly&nbsp;because of the powerful heat. When making plasma cuts, touching the&nbsp;work piece&nbsp;with your bare hands can be very dangerous! Additionally, you should wear a welding apron to protect yourself&nbsp;from the sparks&nbsp;and hot metal. Pay special attention to the environment and the surroundings, and store flammable materials and substances at a safe distance. In public areas, passers-by are also exposed to the dangers of welding, such as direct visual contact with the welding arc. A protective wall separating the workplace from the surrounding area will help prevent this.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-what-should-you-pay-attention-to-when-buying-a-plasma-cutter-\"><strong>What should you pay attention to when buying a plasma&nbsp;cutter?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31957"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31957"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86093,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31957\/revisions\/86093"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31958"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31957"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31957"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31957"},{"taxonomy":"promotion","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.expondo.ie\/inspirations\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/promotion?post=31957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}