WHAT IS
PLASMA
?
Plasma is a state of matter similar to gas which is widely claimed to be the fourth state of matter due to its unique properties. Plasma is by far the most common form of matter in the universe, making up over 99% of the visible universe and perhaps most of that which is not visible. When substantial heat is added to a gas, its molecules or atoms are ionized and turn into plasma which contains charged particles: positive ions and negative electrons or ions. The plasma is electrically conductive because free electrons are available to carry current. Many of the principles that apply to current conduction through metals also apply to plasmas. For example, if the current – carrying cross-section of a metal is reduced, the resistance increases. A higher voltage is needed to force the same amount of electrons through this cross-section and the metal heats up. The same is true for a plasma gas; the more reduction in cross-section, the hotter it gets. That is where the idea of plasma cutting comes from.
In modern CNC systems, end-to-end component design is highly automated using computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programs.
The plasma cutting grew out of plasma welding more than 50 years ago during the height of World War II.
The plasma cutting process, as used in the cutting of electrically conductive metals, utilizes this electrically conductive gas to transfer energy from...
