Plasma Cutting; air vs Ar/N2

Discussion in 'Metal Boat Building' started by baeckmo, Jun 23, 2014.

  1. baeckmo
    Joined: Jun 2009
    Posts: 1,654
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    Location: Sweden

    baeckmo Hydrodynamics

    Have just substituted my old beefy ThermalArc dual gas plasma cutter for an air plasma unit. Looking at the two machines I wonder, does anybody here know what pieces, voltage, frequency or other, are different in order to accept air instead of the dual gases (Argon/Nitrogen or CO2/Nitrogen)?
     
  2. yofish

    yofish Previous Member

  3. Wynand N
    Joined: Oct 2004
    Posts: 1,260
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    Location: South Africa

    Wynand N Retired Steelboatbuilder

    Can't comment on plasma using gasses, but is using a small general purpose Thermadyne 40B air plasma cutter at home for the last 5 years and love it. Cut everything with it, even 12mm mildsteel plate (going slow) although only rated for 8mm plate.
    Cutting 3mm plate is a matter as fast as you can pull the torch, and 6mm still about 4 times faster than oxy-acetylene unit.....

    Infact, I just cut a whole steel boat under construction with it - plates, bars angles etc. Cheap, and fast and no heat screwing up plating.:cool:

    Invest in good compressor (I have 100lt Ingersol Rand unit with 7.8cfm head) and my compressor actually cuts and waits for plasma to use the air in tank when doing long cuts. Just be aware that water and plasma dont go well together and invest in decent watertrap.

    I assume you want to use the plasma at home.
     
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