11
PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION
WHAT IS PLASMA CUTTING
Plasma Cutting is a fast, clean and distortion free, means of cutting through all
types of metal from mild and stainless steels to aluminium brass and copper.
• An inert gas (compressed air) is blown at high speed out of the
nozzle; whilst at the same time an electrical arc travels through the
gas heating it to an extremely high temperature, this ionizes the gas.
• The column of heated ionized gas is called “Plasma” and is a good
conductor of electricity.
• The cutting procedure utilises the plasma to transfer the electric arc
to the metal workpiece, which is melted by the heat and then
blown out of the way using the compressed air supply.
HOW THE PLASMA CUTTER WORKS
• The start of the cycle is determined by an arc, called the pilot arc,
which is struck between the electrode (negative polarity) and the
torch nozzle (positive polarity) due to the short circuit between these
two elements.
NOTE:
The duration of the pilot arc is set in the factory at 3 seconds; if
the transfer has not been made within this time, the cycle is
automatically stops.
• When the torch is brought into direct contact with the workpiece
(connected to the positive polarity of the power source) the pilot arc is
transferred between the electrode and the workpiece itself thus
striking a plasma arc, also called cutting arc.
Summary of Contents for 30SI
Page 1: ...OPERATION MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS LS1208 PLASMA CUTTER MODEL NO 30SI PART NO 6016010...
Page 2: ...2...
Page 25: ...25 WIRING DIAGRAM...
Page 26: ...26 DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY...
Page 27: ...27 NOTES...
Page 28: ......
