Plasma cutting
In plasma cutting, a short arc increases the temperature of the sheet being cut to the melting point in a very localised way.
Prins Staal has five plasma cutting machines, three cutting tables for carbon steel and two tables for stainless steel. The maximum working range is 7 metres in width with a total length of over 110 metres.
The temperature can reach 25,000° C. A pressurised inert gas is then blown through the cut. This technique is used mainly for materials that are not suitable for oxy-fuel cutting and for carbon steel sheets up to a thickness of 30 mm. We can cut stainless steel up to a thickness of 100 mm.
The advantage of this technique is that hardly any heat is released outside the cut and, consequently, deformation does not occur. As is the case with oxy-fuel cutting, several heads can be used simultaneously. Moreover, the speed is relatively high.
The drawback is that it is a more expensive process and that, rather than dead straight, the cut is somewhat bevelled. Plasma cutting is also less suitable for making small holes.
