METHOD OF IMPROVING ELECTRODE LIFE BY SIMULTANEOUSLY CONTROLLING PLASMA GAS COMPOSITION AND GAS FLOW

摘要

A method of operating a plasma arc torch system is provided. A first plasma gas supply source, a second plasma gas supply source, and a control unit are provided. A first plasma gas composition is flowed through a first plasma gas flow path, and a plasma arc is generated using the first plasma gas composition. After arc generation, the plasma gas composition is changed to a second plasma gas composition, and the plasma gas flow path is changed to a second plasma gas flow path, wherein the second plasma gas flow path is different from the first plasma gas flow path. The plasma arc is sustained using the second plasma gas composition. The first and second plasma gas flow paths are both at least partially disposed within the plasma arc torch.

主权项

1. A method of operating a plasma arc torch system, the method comprising:
providing (i) a plasma arc torch having a plasma chamber in which a plasma arc is generated, (ii) a first plasma gas supply source and a second plasma gas supply source for providing a plasma gas flow to the plasma arc torch, and (iii) a control unit for controlling cutting parameters including plasma gas composition and plasma gas flow path; flowing a first plasma gas composition through a first plasma gas flow path; generating the plasma arc using the first plasma gas composition; changing the first plasma gas composition to a second plasma gas composition after the plasma arc is generated; changing the first plasma gas flow path to a second plasma gas flow path after the plasma arc is generated, the second plasma gas flow path different from the first plasma gas flow path; and sustaining the plasma arc using the second plasma gas composition; wherein the first and second plasma gas flow paths both are at least partially disposed within the plasma arc torch.