plasma arc machining
Quick Summary
Plasma arc machining (PAM) is a metal cutting technique that utilizes a plasma-arc torch to generate a high-velocity jet of ionized gas, known as plasma. This superheated plasma, reaching temperatures between 11,000°C and 28,000°C, melts and displaces material from the workpiece, enabling precise cuts.1
PAM is effective for cutting most metals, including those difficult to machine with conventional methods or oxyacetylene torches. It can handle substantial material thicknesses, such as six inches of aluminum alloys and four inches of stainless steel. Common applications include profile cutting of flat plates, creating grooves in stainless steel, and turning large, hardened steel rolls on lathes. A plasma torch, in general, is a device that heats gas electrically to form plasma for high-temperature tasks like melting metal.12
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