What kind of gas for a plasma cutter?

Can you use CO2 for plasma cutter?

Use nitrogen plasma with CO2 to cut stainless and aluminum for the best results for the cost. For the most economical plasma cutting, clean compressed air is the best fit for cutting aluminum, mild and stainless steel.

What is plasma cutting gas?

Plasma gases are usually argon, argon/hydrogen or nitrogen. These inert gases can be replaced by air but this requires a special electrode of hafnium or zirconium.

Which plasma gas gives the best results for cutting mild steel?

Oxygen. Oxygen has become the standard in the industry at cutting mild steel because it provides the best, clean-cut quality and the fastest cutting speed of any plasma gas. However, a plasma cutting aluminum plate or stainless steel plate with oxygen plasma gas is not recommended.

How big of an air compressor do I need to run a plasma cutter?

As a good rule of thumb, select a compressor that has a flow rate capacity of at least 1.5 times the consumption rate of the plasma cutter.

Can you use compressor air for plasma cutter?

If you plan to use your plasma cutter for hobby projects or for cutting an occasional piece of steel, then an air compressor for your plasma cutter with a cfm rating slightly higher than the minimum requirement listed in your owner’s manual will likely be adequate.

Do plasma cutters use gas or compressed air?

Do plasma cutters use gas? Yes. All plasma cutting systems—including air plasma cutters—use gas.

Can nitrogen become plasma?

When an object undergoes a plasma treatment, there are many options as to what type of plasma can be used. This depends on what type of gas that is ionized within the low pressure chamber of a plasma system. The most often used options are air, oxygen, hydrogen, argon, and nitrogen plasma.

What two methods are used to start a plasma arc cutting arc?

What are two methods for establishing the plasma path to the metal being cut? High frequency alternating current and a pilot arc.