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Posts Tagged ‘plasma arc’

If we take a look at modern industry we can see that it largely depends on the manipulation of heavy metal and alloys. Metals are being used to build the tools and transportation necessary for day-to-day businesses. Everyday huge equipments are made including cranes, cars, skyscrapers, robots, and suspension bridges using precisely formed metal components. This is because metals are extremely strong and durable and for anything that has to be big and sturdy, metal is the perfect choice.

Since the metal is so sturdy, it is really tough to cut and mend it desirably. Due to metal’s strength, it cannot be manipulated easily to form into specialized pieces. Here the plasma cutters are of great use for cutting the metals. The plasma cutter works by binding one of the most prevalent states of matter in the visible universe; plasma. The plasma cutting machines come in different shapes and sizes. There are monstrous metal cutting machines as well as portable plasma cutters.

The plasma cutter is basically a simple and relatively easy to use tool to cut steel and other electrically conductive metals. The working of plasma cutter is done using a high voltage electrical arc and compresses gas, which would normally be air. A concentrated arc of plasma is created at the cutter’s tip as an electrical arc generated by an internal electrode ionizes gas passing through a nozzle. A high circuit is developed as the arc comes in contact with the working surface thereby melting a section less than 1/16″ wide. The force of the plasma then completely blows out the molten area on the work piece. Thus a clear cut takes place without any slag. The speed at which plasma arc travels through the nozzle would be up to 20,000 feet per second and the temperature would reach as high as 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

Coming to talk about the power used by plasma cutters, it has been seen that light portable plasma cutters take in 110 volts with an output of around 12-35 amps. On board air compressors are often found in these machines in order to simplify their use. The large plasma cutters would have an output between 50 and 80 amps and they would be 220 volt systems. For cutting any conductive metal up to ½ inch thick, hand-held plasma cutting equipments would be available. However, for industrial purposes larger ones are used which can cut through 2 inches of metal.

There are many advantages in using plasma cutters in welding industry. One of the main advantages is that during plasma cutting the surface of the metal outside the cutting area remains relatively cool. This would help in preventing the warping and paint damage that happens with other flame cutters.  For precise curved line cutting, there are thin heat affected zone (HAZ) also allows the use of templates. Since the plasma does not rely on highly flammable gases, they have the capacity to cut up to five times faster than traditional torches. Sometimes the plasma cutters act as gougers and are capable of cutting metals accurately and quickly.

Related 110 Mig Welder Articles

Welding is a sculptural process where it deals with raw items such as metal and pipes Historical monuments, construction of building, bridges, ship building, automobile, aerospace, power plants, refineries and lots of manufacturing activities needs the process of welding and it is a part of it. The manufacturing industry came to know about the importance of welding service during 20th century and new welding equipment with latest welding technology were introduced later and requirement for welding supplies increased a lot. The welding industry should be equipped with modern tools such as welding electrodes, welding torches, welding consumables and welding guns and should follow the proper welding system with appropriate welding technology.

There are different types of welding process and each one has its own merits and demerits. Arc welding is a welding technique that uses a welding power supply and creates electric arc between electrode and base materials and Forge welding is a process that joins metal by heating them to high temperature. Tig welding uses tungsten electrode to produce the weld and it is the other name for gas tungsten metal arc welding and it is used to weld thin sections of stainless steel and non ferrous metals. Mig welding is an automatic arc welding process preferred for its versatility and speed and weld aluminum and non ferrous materials. Spot welding is a process in which metal surfaces are joined by the heat obtained from resistance of current flow. Gas welding is also called as oxy-fuel welding and use gases to weld and cut metals. Stick welding or shielded metal arc welding is a manual arc welding process that uses consumable electrodes. Plasma arc welding uses plasma gas and has narrow penetration with greater energy concentration.

Plasma arc cutting is an easy process if you follow these safety precautions. Do not touch any wet surface when operating the plasma cutter equipment and don’t use plasma cutters without any proper protection. Don’t remove the ground cable, which is attached with the work object and ensure that there is proper earth since it connects with high electric circuit. In welding, electrode is used to conduct current and it is of two types such as consumable one and a non consumable one. Shielded metal arc, gas metal arc, flux cored arc and submerged arc welding comes under the category of consumable electrode methods and tig welding and plasma arc welding are non consumable electrode methods

Apart from the welding products such as mig, tig, stick and submerged arc welding products, the other products such as wire feeders, spot welders, multi process units and water coolers comes under the welding products. Welding equipment is a heat generating equipment and it is needed to be cooled by some machines. Water coolers are the instruments which prevent overheating of machines. These have the motors which create a flow of water and cool the welding equipment. Tungsten electrodes are used in tungsten arc welding process. Tungsten electrode is used to weld stainless steel and non ferrous metals and it is called as a steel electrode.

• This guide covers the basics of gas, arc, MIG, TIG, plasma welding and cutting
• Everything you need to know to get started in welding and great information for someone looking to get involved in other types of welding
• Includes information on how to choose the right welding equipment, oxygen-acetylene welding, heating and cutting, arc welding, MIG (wire-feed) welding, TIG (Heli-arc) welding, plasma-arc welding and cutting, safety and shop equipment
• Features over 350 photographs and includes a project section that will guide you through how to build a utility trailer

Product Description

Welding Manual

Hello,

TIG Welding is one of the 2 Most Used types of Welding.  Today we
look at it in depth.  We check out the process and pick up some tips.

TIG(GTAW) Welding Process Overview
The acronym TIG stands for Tungsten Inert Gas Arc Welding and the
acronym GTAW stands for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding this is the same
process but it is referred to by these two different names.

In the situation you will be welding using an electric arc that
generates the heat. You then have a tungsten non-consumable
electrode that then produces the weld you are attempting to make.

One of the things that have to happen in this type of welding is
that the particular metal that you are welding has to be shielded
from contamination in the atmosphere or you will get a poor weld.
Because of this, the area is shielded using an inert gas like
argon; this is used with a filler metal where necessary.

This type of welding needs constant current to flow across the arc
using an ionized gas called plasma. Plasma also has metal vapours
within it. You will usually use GTAW if you have to weld thin
metals like stainless steel, aluminium, magnesium or copper allows.
GTAW also gives the person who is operating the welding process
more control of the weld.

What this means to the weld is that it is a stronger weld and has a
higher quality than many other types of welding. Many experts say
that it is harder to learn, is complex and can be slower than other
welding techniques.

Some welders like using a different kind of torch to produce plasma
arc welding which is very much like this one but a little
different. This type of welding will give a more focused welding
arc, but usually this is done through automation.

How It Operates
The reason this welding process is the most complicated or
difficult to master is because the welder has to use a smaller arc
length; they have to be able to have a very steady hand. If they
aren’t able to keep a distance between the electrode and the piece
they are working on, the piece can become contaminated and there
can be problems with the weld.

This is also a two handed process because you have to be able to
hold the torch in one hand and feed a filler metal into the space
that you are welding. You can see that this is a very intricate
process and one that requires high skill.

There are a few types of welding that will not require this type of
weld and the individual will not have to use filler material these
types include: edge, corner and butt joints. These types of welds
are called autogenous or fusion welds (Source: Wikipedia).

A welder who is highly skilled in this process is able to alternate
between using the torch and then using the filler material in a
pretty fast way.  As they do this the filler rod can be taken out
as the electrode moves forward, and it doesn’t have to be taken out
of the gas shied. This is a highly developed process for those who
can do it well.

GTAW can operate using several different currents: positive direct
current, negative direct current or alternating current. This will
all depend on how they set up the power supply in the beginning.

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• This guide covers the basics of gas, arc, MIG, TIG, plasma welding and cutting
• Everything you need to know to get started in welding and great information for someone looking to get involved in other types of welding
• Includes information on how to choose the right welding equipment, oxygen-acetylene welding, heating and cutting, arc welding, MIG (wire-feed) welding, TIG (Heli-arc) welding, plasma-arc welding and cutting, safety and shop equipment
• Features over 350 photographs and includes a project section that will guide you through how to build a utility trailer

Product Description

Welding Manual