Fundamentals of Plasma Cutting
What is plasma cutting used for?
What is cutting electrically conductive materials such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and copper.
What personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn during plasma cutting?
What is Gloves, flame-resistant jacket, green-tinted glasses, and hearing protection.
What is the kerf width in plasma cutting?
The width of material removed during the cut, typically 1–2 mm.
Name one industry that commonly uses plasma cutting.
Manufacturing, automotive, construction, shipbuilding, aerospace, or art/architecture.
Why should you wait for metal to cool before handling?
To prevent burns; freshly cut metal retains heat.
What forms plasma during the cutting process?
What are Ionized gas heated to extremely high temperatures.
What does the work clamp do?
What is Grounds the workpiece to complete the electrical circuit.
What is a typical cutting current range for plasma cutting?
20–400 amps.
Why is plasma cutting favored over laser or waterjet cutting in some cases?
It’s faster and lower-cost for general metal fabrication.
What systems should always be turned off after use?
Air assist, exhaust, and power supply.
What two general types of plasma cutters were introduced in the presentation?
What are Automated (CNC) plasma cutter and manual handheld plasma cutter.
What file type is uploaded for CNC plasma cutting?
What is a DXF file
How should the torch be held during manual cutting for visibility?
Slightly angled to improve line-of-sight on the cut.
What makes plasma cutting effective for maintenance and field repairs?
Portability and ability to cut through dirty or rusted metals.
What two processes help remove leftover slag and burrs?
Grinding and deburring.
What kind of current is supplied to the plasma arc during cutting?
What is Direct Current (DC), typically between 100–400 volts.
What should be done before performing the final cut?
What is run the machine in Trial Cut Mode to ensure proper setup.
What is the recommended cutting speed range?
About 500–2000 mm/min, depending on material type and thickness.
What is one key advantage and one limitation of plasma cutting?
Advantage: Fast and precise on all conductive metals. Limitation: Only works on conductive materials.
Why must the grounding cable be checked before each cut?
To ensure electrical safety and prevent shock hazards.
Differences between the pilot arc and transfer arc.
What is the pilot arc forms between the electrode and nozzle; the transfer arc forms when it jumps to the workpiece to complete the circuit.
Why is it important to measure the material thickness before cutting?
What is to select proper consumables and current settings for accurate and safe cutting.
What could cause thin metal sheets to warp after cutting?
Excessive heat input from the plasma arc.
How does plasma cutting tie into other manufacturing processes like welding or CNC machining?
It shares heat/arc principles with welding and uses CAD/CAM workflows like CNC machining.
What surface treatment can be applied after cutting for corrosion resistance?
Painting or powder coating.