What makes a plasma cutter good?

Plasma cutters work more efficiently, making clean cuts with less heat and more precision, using a plasma torch. Inverter technology has lowered the costs of plasma cutters. However, serious plasma cutters are still expensive. You need a high quality air plasma cutter best suited to cutting thick metal precisely.

What makes plasma cutting better than gas cutting?

Cutting precision: Plasma typically cuts quickly and with minimal slag, providing smooth cuts with a narrower kerf than what’s produced by oxy-fuel torches. Faster speeds on thinner metals: Plasma can cut thinner metals faster than oxy-fuel can, and with minimal or no metal distortion.

What should I look for in a plasma cutter?

10 Things to Consider when Choosing a Plasma Cutter

• Air compressor. Plasma cutters need compressed air to create the plasma, this can either be provided by a built-in air compressor or an external compressed air supply.
• Reliability.
• Pilot Arc.
• Voltage.
• Cut Rating.
• Duty Cycle.
• Weight.
• Cut Quality.

What is a good plasma gas choice when cutting stainless steel or aluminum?

Argon hydrogen is the gas of choice for thick stainless and aluminum cutting (> 1/2″). The mixture typically used is 35\% hydrogen and 65\% argon, often called H-35. Argon hydrogen is the hottest burning plasma gas and provides the maximum cutting capability.

Will a plasma cutter cut through rust?

Plasma can cut any electrically conductive metal including stainless steel, mild steel, aluminum and more, without pre-heating. Plasma is also great at cutting painted, dirty or even rusted metal.

Can you plasma cut brass?

Virtually any metal can be plasma cut including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, etc. Any thickness from 30 gauge through 1 inch can be cut, depending on the plasma cutter used.

Can a plasma cutter cut steel?

Plasma cuts any electrically-conductive metal (steel, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, etc.) from very thin (<3/8 in.) up to 2 inches.

How thick of steel can plasma cut?

Plasma cutting is an effective way of cutting thin and thick materials alike. Hand-held torches can usually cut up to 38 mm (1.5 in) thick steel plate, and stronger computer-controlled torches can cut steel up to 150 mm (6 in) thick.

What gas do you need for a plasma cutter?

Compressed Air is the most commonly used gas for lower current plasma cutting and works well for most metals from gauge thickness to 1 inch. It leaves an oxidized cut surface. Compressed air can also be used for plasma gouging on carbon steel.

What metals can you cut with a plasma cutter?

So that means that plasma cutting is only used for materials that are conductive, primarily mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. But lots of other metals and alloys are conductive too, such as copper, brass, titanium, monel, inconel, cast iron, etc.

Can plasma cut through steel?

Plasma cutting is a process that cuts through electrically conductive materials by means of an accelerated jet of hot plasma. Typical materials cut with a plasma torch include steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass and copper, although other conductive metals may be cut as well.

Will plasma cutter cut painted metal?

Although plasma can cut through painted metal, it does require a solid connection on a clean part of the workpiece as close as practical to the work area.