[Blacksunshine]

I have a cnc router and I know how that works, but how does a cnc plasma cutter work?

how does the cnc or Mach 3 tell the plasma cutter when to turn on and off, I can under stand it would be like a cnc router as in x and y, and z determines where cuts will be made, but how does the cnc actualy triger the plasma cutter to fire? is there an extra cord running from the control box to the plasma cutter, do you need a special plasma cutter with a computer hook up?




Fustrated in Florida

[Al_The_Man]

Normally there is a contact closure required on the plasma unit, similar to what would be a trigger switch on a manual torch.
On the more sophisticated tables with high frequency start for example, the initiation will wait for arc transfer to occur before torch movement occurs, if no transfer then the axis movement will not occur.
Al.

[Blacksunshine]

Oh I get it, the torch and the material geting cut has to be so close together as to create an electrical contact firing the plasma cutter.


Thanks for the info

[Al_The_Man]

The torch does not make contact with the work, when the torch is at the correct height above the work piece, an arc is started within the torch called a pilot arc, this arc or plasma effect ionizes the gas or air stream through the torch, this arc then transfers to the work piece and the arc is sustained as long as the high voltage DC is maintained.
Al.