Characteristics of Plasma Arc Cutting

Plasma arc cutting: A cutting method that utilizes the high-temperature, high-speed arc flow of a plasma arc to locally melt and even vaporize the metal at the cutting edge, and then uses a high-speed gas or water stream to blow the molten material away from the base material, forming a cut.
Features:
(1) High energy density of the plasma arc, high arc column temperature, and strong penetration ability. Steel plates with a thickness of 10-12mm can be welded without beveling, achieving single-pass double-sided welding, resulting in fast welding speed, high productivity, and minimal stress deformation.
(2) The weld cross-section is goblet-shaped, without the problem of finger-like penetration.
(3) Good arc straightness, and small fluctuation of the molten pool due to arc length variations.
(4) The arc is stable at 0.1A, still exhibiting relatively flat static characteristics. When used with a constant current power source, it can effectively weld thin plates (0.1mm).
(5) The tungsten electrode is recessed, preventing tungsten inclusion in the weld.
(6) Uses small-hole welding technology to achieve single-sided welding with double-sided formation.
(7) The equipment is relatively complex, and gas consumption is high, making it only suitable for indoor welding. The accessibility of the welding torch is worse than TIG welding.
(8) The arc diameter is small, requiring more precise alignment of the welding torch axis with the weld centerline.
Metallurgical reaction: Simple, only evaporation.
Power source: Steep-slope power source, DC positive polarity; AC power source and steep-slope power source are used for welding aluminum and magnesium, requiring arc ignition and arc stabilization measures. Welding materials: shielding gas, tungsten electrode.
Scope of application: Widely used in industrial production, especially for welding copper and copper alloys, titanium and titanium alloys, alloy steel, stainless steel, molybdenum, and other metals used in military and cutting-edge industrial technologies such as aerospace, including missile casings made of titanium alloy, and some thin-walled containers on aircraft, etc.