The recent technological advances in plasma cutting technology are changing the impact that plasma can have on your bottom line. High definition plasma cutting now offers high-quality cuts at faster speeds and can help shop owners reduce costs associated with overtime and defects.
Increased Cutting Speeds
Plasma cutting, when used on metal up to 2” thick, is capable of speeds twice as fast as cutting by Oxy-fuel. The thinner the metal the better the speed benefits. Thinner metals allow for cutting speeds that are up to 12+ times faster than Oxy-fuel. Cutting more parts in less time translates directly to improved operations and increased productivity.
Diminished Dross
If cuts are made using Oxy-fuel, a consolidated dross (oxide slag) is created by the chemical reactions between the steel and oxygen. This material adheres to cuts and always requires chiselling or grinding to be removed. In contrast, high definition plasma cutting employs electrically charged high-temp gas, which melts metal and blows the molten metal away from the cut. Since minimal dross is created and the process itself removes excess metal, chiselling or grinding is typically not necessary.
Raised Inside Piercing Speed
Many cutting applications require inside piercing. When you use Oxy-fuel to pierce a ½” thick piece of steel, the process may take more than half a minute because metal demands preheating to about 1000ºC. Alternately, high definition plasma pierces the same ½” metal piece in two seconds, which significantly increases your shop’s productivity rates.
Eliminated Plate Warping
High definition plasma technology’s fast cutting speeds drastically reduce the amount of heat that is transferred to the material. Using high definition plasma cutting avoids plate warping of thin materials; a problem commonly affecting materials that are cut more slowly by Oxy-fuel.
