Laser vs Plasma cutting

Standard metal cutting processes: laser cutting vs. plasma cuttingLaser manufacturing activities currently include cutting, welding, heat treating, cladding, vapor deposition, engraving, scribing, trimming, annealing, and shock hardening. Laser manufacturing processes compete both technically and economically with conventional and nonconventional manufacturing processes such as mechanical and thermal machining, arc welding, electrochemical, and electric discharge machining (EDM), abrasive water jet cutting, plasma cutting, and flame cutting.Plasma (arc) cutting was developed in the 1950s for cutting of metals that could not be flame cut, such as stainless steel, aluminum and copper. The plasma arc cutting process uses electrically conductive gas to transfer energy from an electrical power source through a plasma cutting torch to the material being cut. The plasma gases include argon, hydrogen, nitrogen and mixtures, plus air and oxygen.Normally, a plasma arc cutting system has a power supply, an arc starting circuit, and a torch. The power source and arc starter circuit are connected to the cutting torch through leads and cables that supply proper gas flow, electrical current flow, and high frequency to the torch to start and maintain the process. The arc and the plasma stream are focused by a very narrow nozzle orificeThe temperature of the plasma arc melts the metal and pierces through the workpiece while the high velocity gas flow removes the molten material from the bottom of the cut, or the kerf. In addition to high energy radiation (Ultraviolet and visible) generated by plasma arc cutting, the intense heat of the arc creates substantial quantities of fumes and smoke from vaporizing metal in the kerf..

Laser cutting vs. plasma cutting - standard metal cutting processes

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