subject: What Good Are Plasma Machines? [print this page] What Good Are Plasma Machines? What Good Are Plasma Machines?
Plasma machines are used to cut metal by delivering high-pressure ionized gas through a precision nozzle. When the hot and ionized gas, also called plasma, hits any metal, it melts the metal; this melting of the metal is then used to cut through the metal as desired. Since the gas exits through the nozzle, and can be controlled in its speed and intensity, it can cut the metal with very high quality. Plasma cutting is used by amateur users as well as in industrial settings.Since plasma machines are complex machines, there are various factors depending on which you can decide which machine fits your requirement. Here we go over some of the factors. Electrical InterferenceHigh frequency electricity is a normal byproduct of many plasma cutters. To save your electronic equipment from interference and damage, you should use a plasma machine that does not interfere with electronic equipment.Plasma Cutter ConsumablesAnother factor you should consider is the number of plasma consumables your plasma machine uses; the more a plasma machine uses, the more costly it will be to you. You should also make some test cuts with your machine to check that it makes high quality cuts. As a rule of thumb, if the cuts are high quality then your consumables are in an acceptable condition.Thickness of Metal CutOne of the most important factors in deciding on a plasma machine is the one that suits your requirement of the maximum thickness of metal you want cut. If you want to cut thicker metals, you should get a machine with higher amperage. It should be noted that the cutting rating of a plasma machine only notes the thickness of metal that can be cut using the machine in a comfortable manner; if you try to over-extend it by cutting a metal with greater thickness, you will be able to do it, but it will be harder to operate and the quality of the cut would not be good. Thus the rating tells us the maximum thickness that ought to be cut using it and you are best advised to stick with it, and not overextend the plasma machine.Insider tip: Cutting metal that is thicker than the cut rating of the cutter will require you to clean the cut after you have completed it. If you stay within the cut rating of the plasma machine, all of the cuts should be clean and not require clean up on your part.Working Visibility and Other Safety FeaturesIt is important that the plasma machine allows enough working visibility so that the operator can see the machine and the metal clearly. Smaller machines offer better visibility.If you are using a CNC plasma machine, a nozzle-in-safety sensor is preferable because it can come handy if an operator starts the machine by mistake without having a nozzle attached to it.
