Thread: Plasma cutting compared to oxy??

The material thickness that you wish to be able to cut will have a bearing on how much a plasma will cost you.
I have a Chinese plasma that I have used to cut upto 10mm,its stated that it will cut 16mm but havent tried it on that size yet.
From my experience with this machine it works well,but you would want to make sure that your electrical circuit is capable of running any unit without tripping circuit breakers.
You will need a compressor as well to supply air to the hand piece and would probably have to be able to supply at least 8 CFM.
What I have found with the 1 I have is that they can go through consumables a bit quick.
So far I have used mine on Gal chequer plate,mild steel,aluminium and Stainless without a problem.

Whats the finished job like pipeclay? Neat edges? How would it go on 3mm mild steel?

I have cut 3 mm mild steel plate with a plasma and found it cut it neet with no distortion and no attached slag needing very little grinding

Originally Posted by pipeclay

You will need a compressor as well to supply air to the hand piece and would probably have to be able to supply at least 8 CFM.
What I have found with the 1 I have is that they can go through consumables a bit quick.

An accessory that would greatly help save the wear on nozzles and anvil fittings for plasma units is Micron size filter.

The problem is that the compressor air used is not clean and any water oil,or rust particles are driven at super sonic speeds and is what does most of the damage.


Thie particles at that speed just rip through the tiny orifice holes and enlarge them very quickly.

They don't seem to get a mention in the Diy literature, but I understand that the industrial units have them.

I have no idea where to get them,but would suggest the air compressor places may be a good start.

Grahame

I have seen and used a large industrial top of the line model (used special gas in a red cylinder from BOC) and it made excellent cuts on aluminium and stainless. For steel an oxy torch was employed.

Oxy when setup correctly can do pretty neat cuts, but the real advantage of the plasma over oxy is it can be used for many different metals (copper, aluminium, stainless as well as steel), whereas the latter is limited to mild steel... maybe high carbon but not stainless or cast.
The Uniplas I have at work needs compressed air at 100psi minimum to work, and without filtered supply the consummable parts do indeed wearout quickly.

Obviously oxy-acet is more versatile a tool in a small workshop, for heating and brazing/welding as well as cutting.

Cheers