The work of cutting metal sheets is not so easy to do without special equipment. Therefore, all home builders, who face a similar task, should take care to have such a tool in their arsenal, as a manual plasma cutting machine. This equipment is compact and allows you to easily cut iron sheets at home into pieces of appropriate size.
This tool has many advantages, the main of which is that, that during division of preparations into segments the owner won't have to be engaged in processing of edges of details later. To simplify work with this equipment, it will be useful for every home craftsman to get an idea of the existing varieties of these devices, their designs, principle of operation and rules of choice.
Equipment for plasma cutting of metal
All the variety of such tools can be classified into two main groups:
- production;
- home use.
Feature of devices, representing the first group, there are large sizes and considerable weight. Their design provides for CNC (numerical program control). This device simplifies the manufacture of parts of different shapes.
Working with such equipment is to develop a layout using special software. It is on him later will have to focus on the performance of work. After that, the file created in the required format arrives on the machine, and there it is already cut off. It is worth noting, that such equipment is not cheap: the price of these units can reach tens of thousands of dollars.
Devices have a simpler device, designed for plasma cutting at home. In their design, they look like a compact unit, which is powered by electricity and supplemented by such components, both hose and tip, providing an electric arc. It is thanks to her that the cutting is performed.
The arc also allows you to separate the iron sheets and ensure high quality edges. In view of the, that an unusual tool in the form of a hacksaw or a disk is used for cutting of preparation, the owner does not have to spend time and effort on additional grinding of parts. Equipment for home use is attractive because, that it can be transported anywhere, as well as store and use for a long time.
The models of devices for plasma cutting offered on the market are calculated on work with various types of materials, determined by the type of gas, which is in the mechanism. With the help of air-plasma type installations it is possible to be engaged in cutting of preparations from ferrous metals and their alloys.. If there is a problem to separate parts from non-ferrous metals and their combinations, it is desirable to use equipment, where inactive elements such as hydrogen are used, nitrogen or argon. However, such a variant of gas cutting in the home is rarely used.
The difference between devices of direct and indirect action
Today you can find different options for handheld devices, in which a different principle of operation is implemented. The operation of direct-acting installations is based on the use of an electric arc. The latter looks like a cylinder, and a gas jet is directly connected to it. Due to this design, the arc is heated to high temperatures of the order 20 000 degrees. At the same time, it is able to effectively cool other elements of the device.
If we talk about the settings of indirect action, then their feature is lower efficiency. That is why, that they are not resorted to so often.
Speaking of their device, It should be noted, that the main purpose here is to place the active points of the circuit on a pipe or a special tungsten electrode. Side-effect equipment has become widespread for spraying, heating of metal devices, moreover, they are not used as cutting equipment. For the most part, car parts are repaired with the help of such a manual mechanism, without resorting to removing them from the case.
At the same time such installations have one common feature: they are able to work only in the presence of air filters and coolers. The benefit of the former is to increase the service life of the cathode and anode, accelerate the start of the mechanism, which is operated for a long time.
As for the second element, then it is necessary to increase the service life of the device, operating in continuous mode. Optimally, when for an hour of continuous cutting with this device is allocated to rest about 20 minutes. These characteristics are very important and should be taken into account regardless of the type of device selected.
Design of manual plasma cutter
The ability to perform its function of such a device provides the supply of highly heated air on a metal sheet. In temperature conditions, reaching several tens of thousands of degrees, in which oxygen is heated, the latter comes to the surface under great pressure, which leads to its cutting.
Faster execution of this operation is provided taking into account ionization by electric current. Extend the service life of such equipment is conditional, that the following elements will be present in its equipment:
- Plasmatron. It looks like a cutter, whose responsibilities include the performance of basic tasks;
- Plasma cutting. This device can be made in the option of direct or indirect exposure;
- Nozzle. This device surpasses in functionality all other elements of the equipment. It makes it clear, to perform cutting of what complexity is a specific model;
- Electrodes. They are equipped with certain types of devices;
- Compressor. It creates a powerful air flow.
How to make a plasma cutter from an inverter - instructions
If desired, any owner is able to make such equipment with their own hands. However, that the self-made plasma cutter could carry out the work effectively, you must follow all the rules. In such a case, the inverter will be virtually indispensable, as this device will provide a reliable power supply. Due to it, there will be no interruptions in the work of plasma cutting, and will be able to reduce energy consumption. However, it also has disadvantages: it is designed for cutting material of smaller thickness, than when using a transformer.
selection of items
If you decide to make a plasma cutter yourself, then you need to prepare the necessary materials and equipment:
- Inverter or transformer, having the necessary power. Щоб не помилитися у час покупки цього пристрою, it is necessary to tell the seller about it in shop, to cut the material of what thickness you plan to use it. Based on this, the choice of the appropriate mechanism will be made. In view of the, that cutting will be performed manually, it is desirable to buy an inverter, which is not only due to its light weight, but also the ability to reduce energy costs.
- Plasma cutter or plasmatron point. When choosing it must be based on the same criteria, as in the case of the inverter. The important point here is that, that direct impact equipment is designed to work with conductive materials, and plasma cutter of indirect influence is more suitable for work with products, unable to conduct electricity.
- Compressor for air distillation. Here we should pay attention to its power, according to which it must be correlated with other selected components.
- Cable-hose package. Its task will be to combine all the above elements.
collection
It doesn't hurt to find out before you start assembling a homemade plasma cutter, or compatible components, purchased by you among themselves. If you have never had to make a plasma cutting machine with your own hands, it is advisable to seek the help of more experienced craftsmen.
After analyzing the power of each required element, they will give you their recommendation. Make sure you have a protective set of clothes. You will have to use it, when it's time to check the efficiency of homemade plasma cutter. If we talk about the procedure for assembling equipment for plasma cutting, then it includes the following steps:
- At the first stage it is necessary to prepare all the necessary items for assembly and protective clothing.
- Further, the issue of uninterruptible power supply should be resolved.
- Then you need to take an inverter or transformer, as well as cable of the desired thickness and electrodes. Pay special attention to the last element, which must be made of beryllium, zirconium, thorium or hafnium. Such materials are considered the best choice for air-plasma cutting. Hafnium can also be considered as an alternative, because in this case the welder or foreman, who will perform the work of separating the letters, higher security will be provided. These items must be connected in order, the result should be an electric arc.
- Further, a hose is connected to the compressor. It is through him that air will enter the plasma cutting machine. The other end must be connected to the plasmatron.
- Take a small piece of aluminum and check the operation of the device, which you made. Pay special attention to the security of connections.
Regardless, whether you plan to make a plasma cutter with your own hands or buy it in a store, all models should be studied first, to get acquainted with the principles of their work and options for implementation. The type of material is also important, which is planned to be cut in the future with the help of this equipment. You can simplify the task of your choice, if you watch the video first, which shows the principle of operation of the apparatus of manual plasma cutting and technology of work with it.
Average cost of equipment
Presented in stores today ??a large number of equipment for manual cutting of metals, which are offered at different prices. And the cost of these devices will be affected by several factors:
- type of equipment;
- producer;
- the maximum thickness of the required cut;
- device model.
You can avoid mistakes at the stage of choosing a tool for cutting metals, provided, that you visit several stores and compare conditions, on which you are willing to sell this equipment. Considering different models of plasma cutting, you should immediately inquire about the prices of components, without which not to do, if you have to repair this equipment. On average, the prices of spare parts for plasma cutting, taking into account the thickness of the cut are in the following range:
- At a thickness no more 30 mm - 150-300 thousand. Rub .;
- At a thickness no more 25 mm - 81-220 thousand. Rub .;
- At a thickness no more 17 mm - 45-270 thousand. Rub .;
- At a thickness no more 12 mm - 32-230 thousand. Rub .;
- At a thickness no more 10 mm - 25-20 thousand. Rub .;
- At a thickness no more 6 mm - 15-200 thousand. Rub.
conclusion
Plasma metal cutting equipment is a high-tech device, which can significantly simplify the work of cutting various metal products. And you don't have to buy expensive equipment in a store, each owner can make this device on their own.
For this purpose it is enough to prepare all necessary equipment and to follow precisely technologies of assembly of a plasma cutter. Even hand-made plasma cutters can provide the same quality of cutting steel parts, as well as equipment, offering in stores.