PLASMA OR LASER? PART 1 - Oct 15

Metals have been the obvious material of choice for manufacturing due to its strength and durability. However, the sturdiness of metal makes it particularly resistant to manipulation. To create cranes, skyscrapers, robots, cars, airplane wings and suspension bridges, amongst other things, precision cutting and manipulation of metals was essential which is where plasma cutters first came in around World War II. With the demand for armour, weapons and aircrafts, there was a greater impetus for mass production. Welding with inert gas fed through an electric arc was adopted, and soon after charging the gas with an electric current was discovered and proved a breakthrough for manufacturing as the weld was protected from oxidation and resulted in cleaner lines and using this method. Plasma cutting is the process used to cut metals of various thicknesses using a plasma torch (also known as a plasma arc or plasma gun). The plasma torch generates a directed flow of plasma. Plasma is formed when air or gas is ionized, and it has conductive properties similar to those of metals. This is blown out of a nozzle at high speed and temperature which causes the metal to be cut and the molten metal is blown away from the cut. CNC tables are computer controlled resulting in cleaner and sharper cuts. It is particularly useful for multi-axis cutting of thick material. CNC plasma cutting tables are particularly prevalent in the HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) industries as the use greatly increases productivity. They are also seen in educational institutions, agriculture and construction. New developments with plasma manufacturers have seen smaller nozzles and thinner plasma arcs which facilitate near-laser precision allowing fabricators to produce parts that require little or no finishing. Laser cutting technology, just like plasma, is typically used for industrial manufacturing applications, directing the output usually through optics. CNC is used as well, either to direct the material or the laser beam. The finish is high-quality and can be used to cut flat sheets as well as structural and piping materials.