Article 1: Cncplasmacutterinc.com
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF CNC PLASMA CUTTING MACHINES The fabrication industry depends greatly on welding and gas cutting technology. With continuous innovations, this field of applied engineering has made spectacular advancement, both in theory and in technology of application. One such unique advancement is seen in the metal cutting technology. Till recent times metals were cut by conventional gas cutting using acetylene and oxygen. But after the advent of the fourth stage of matter the cutting technology has undergone a revolutionary change. The theory of plasma cutting We all know that there are three stages of matter namely solid, liquid and gas. But when the gas is superheated a fourth stage of matter is found which is known as plasma stage. Heating increases the speed of movement of the molecules and atoms of gas. At one stage the energy forces the molecules and atoms to break apart. We know that inside every atom, electrons orbit round its nucleus in various orbits. All these happen due to forces of attraction and repulsion as well as centrifugal and centripetal forces among the orbiting electrons and the nucleus. But high input of heat energy destroys this balance, forcing the electrons to furiously move around. The electrons will collide with other electrons and ions creating enormous energy. The plasma cutters employ this theory to revolutionize the metal cutting process. The CNC plasma cutting machine This machine was developed during the Second World War. It uses the inert gas and electric arc for converting it into a powerful metal cutting tool using plasma stage. Pressurized gas is made to pass through a constricted channel where negatively charged electrode is kept. The spark generated at the electrode heats up the gas till it reaches plasma stage. High temperature to the tune of 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit is generated which turns the metal into molten slag. By this method very high temperature can be created and very thick metal pieces also can easily be cut. This has increased the speed of cutting and improved the accuracy of cutting. The development of computer science has enabled Computer Numeric Controlled or CNC plasma cutters. CNC cutting machines give high speed, high accuracy, automatic reading of drawing and cutting accurately as per measurements, high finish and any type of complicated cutting. CNC plasma cutter table The cutting job is performed over plasma cutting table. The tables have rails which the drives use for moving the plasma tool. A bridge spans the table, ends of which rest on the rails. The plasma cutting system is attached to a rail fixed on the bridge. These enables movements both in X and Y directions. The plasma system is able to cut any complicated shapes using these two dimensional movements and that too at an astoundingly fast pace. The tables are made of various sizes and materials depending upon the use. The CNC plasma cutters are now widely used both in industries as well as by artists and garage hobbyists. While the industrial plasma cutters are built robustly so that these do not require frequent maintenance, the garage cutters are made less durable and cheaper.