[TheForge] plasma cutting ss ( was Re: several questions )

[debmiller at fuse.net]

---- "terry l. ridder" <terrylr at blauedonau.com> wrote: 
> On Sun, 5 Mar 2006, Ries Niemi wrote:
> 
> >
> <snip>
> >
> > Plasma cutters will indeed cut stainless steel, but the edge
> > quality is not the best- Unless you use a non-oxygen sheilding
> > gas, such as nitrogen or argon, which is very expensive, the
> > plasma cut on stainless will be black, rough, and have very
> > hard slag that eats up grinding discs when you try to remove it.
> > You should go to a welding supply store, with a sample piece
> > of stainless, and get them to demo the cut for you.
> > I cut plenty of stainless with the plasma, but when I need a
> > perfect edge, I have to pay to have it waterjet cut.
> >
> 
> would cutting stainless steel in a water table using a water muffler
> on the plasma torch produce a better quality cut?
> 
> would a waterjet/abrasive waterjet system be a viable alternative
> to purchasing a plasma torch? for discussion sake consider a
> system that can handle a 4x8 sheet of 16 gage 304/304l/316/316l
> stainless steel.
> 
> <snip>
> 
> >
> >

For industrial applications they do perform plasma cutting under water and obtain cleaner kerf edges. 

Water jet is definitely an alternative and for some local shops they have followed the evolution from plasma to lasers to water jet.

Like any of these CNC processes you can size tables for the job, and some are modular...

Ray Miller
Cincinnati

> > Ries Niemi
> > Industrial Artist
> >
> 
> -- 
> terry l. ridder ><>
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