Plasma cutters use HF electricity to create a plasma arc for cutting conductive materials. Manual cutters are portable and easy to use, while automatic cutters are more productive but require specialized training. Choosing between the two depends on factors like portability and productivity.
Plasma cutting machines use high frequency (HF) electricity to convert pressurized air into a plasma arc. The arc is formed when the copper tip of the plasma torch contacts a conductive material and the positive current flowing from the plasma torch meets the negatively charged material. Two types of plasma cutters, manual and automatic, are common to shops that fabricate sheet metal and tubing. Some of the differences between the two types of plasma cutters are portability, productivity, and ease of use. Determining the type of plasma cutting required for a project will depend on the importance of any or all of the factors listed.
Portability is an important factor when choosing between manual and automatic plasma cutting machines. Manual plasma cutting machines are smaller and may contain an internal compressor to supply pressurized air to the cutter during operation. An operator pulls the plasma torch of a handheld cutter, while an automatic plasma cutting machine relies on a table-mounted control head to cut steel and other metals. A computer controls the motion of the control head, allowing this type of plasma cutter to create precise cuts without the operator error associated with a manual plasma cutting machine.
Increased production means faster turnaround times for wrought steel cut with a plasma cutter. The time it takes for a handheld plasma torch operator to lay, align, cut and clean a piece of steel can be significantly reduced when an automatic plasma cutting machine is used. An automatic plasma cutter requires a programmer to enter dimensions into a computer that communicates with the plasma control head and a helper to load the metal onto the plasma bed. After the metal has been loaded, the automatic plasma cutting machine starts an arc and cuts the steel to the size entered.
The complex programming tasks of automatic plasma cutting machines require an operator to receive specialized training to use the software. This increases the complexity of cutting steel with an automatic plasma torch. Manual plasma cutting machines do not require specialized training for an operator to cut steel and other conductive metals with the machine. Simply reading the operating instructions, which are usually printed on a sign attached to the machine, will teach an inexperienced operator how to use the equipment. A simplified learning curve increases the number of workers able to operate the equipment, eliminating the need to rely on a single individual to operate the equipment.
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