Laser, plasma, oxygen cutting – where to perform in Krakow?

Laser, plasma and oxygencutting are processes that are used to cut various types of materials. They have many advantages, including, among others, the great precision that is necessary when cutting certain products. So what are the differences between these techniques and what beams exactly do they use?

Laser cutting

Laser cutting is one of the most popular cutting processes. A laser beam strikes the material it is to cut and then heats it up very strongly. It is directed at the surface until the surface either melts or vaporizes completely. The laser has to completely penetrate the material in one particular place. Only then does the cutting process begin. Often process gases are also used, which have a positive effect on the cutting results.

Laser cutting has a number of advantages. First, a variety of materials can be cut using such a technique. The cross-section of possibilities is very large and is not equal to any other materials, both organic and inorganic. Secondly, once the cutting is done, you don’t have to worry about additional post-processing, as there is additional sealing of the surface edges. Another advantage is also that the tools, or machines, used for laser cutting do not wear out. The heads do not dull, so there is the possibility of saving costs associated with the operation of the equipment. In addition, the laser beam allows for high precision. Unihut also offers such a method. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the offer of cutting.

Application

Laser cutting is used to cut a variety of materials. We are talking about, among others, wood, paper (white or colored), leather, fabrics, cork, cardboard, polycarbonate, rubber, polyester, metals, foam, polyurethane and so on. The laser is also used for marking and engraving or hollowing, among other things. The use of such a technique is therefore very wide.

Plasma cutting

Plasma cutting is also quite a popular process. It is used to cut metals using a special plasma arc. Plasma itself is ionized matter, which has a very similar structure to gas, but has a lower ionization of molecules. It conducts electricity, and as the temperature increases, the resistance of this state decreases.

Plasma cutting uses a special system to work, which consists of four major components. These are the plasma torch, the power source, that is, the plasma source, the ground wire, and the consumable components. However, if we are dealing with a narrow-flux system, then it also includes gas consoles. Their purpose is to dispense and mix technical gases.

During plasma cutting, the nozzle and the electrode contact each other. During this process, the torch does not pass gas. This happens only when the trigger of the torch is pressed. At that point, the source feeds a current of only a few amperes into it, and then returns through the arc wire to the original location. The gas is fed into the burner at the same time, making the current flow, so to speak. The flux of said gas leads to pushing the arc and plasma jet into the nozzle opening. When the arc jumps to the surface we want to cut, then the full current is applied. In this way, the metal under the pressure of several thousand degrees Celsius begins to melt and cut.

The advantages of such a method certainly include the enormous cutting speed, up to seven times faster than oxygen cutting. The lack of heating of the beam and the relatively fast penetration of the material, a large range of cutting thicknesses, the ability to cut thin materials without burning them, and a small cutting gap. In addition, it is also important that such a technique has low heat distortion.

Application

Plasma cutting is used – most simply – to cut through all materials that have the ability to conduct electricity. In reality, however, plasma can be found cutting mainly aluminum and stainless and black steel. What thickness the system will cut is dependent on the power of the source. Hand-held devices cut sheet metal up to 75 millimeters. Advanced systems, however, will cut through material up to 150 millimeters thick without difficulty. They are also used for cutting pipes and mesh.

It is also worth mentioning that plasma cutting can be used with dirty and painted surfaces, and even rusted surfaces. They do not need to be cleaned beforehand.

Oxygen cutting

Oxygen cutting, on the other hand, is also known as gas or flame cutting. Such a technique consists of several stages. At the very beginning, the metal is heated to ignition temperature, and then it is oxidized. The next step is to blast the material with the help of oxygen under very high pressure.

Unfortunately, this method is not suitable for processing some materials through the ignition temperature. Oxygen cutting can be used primarily for cutting structural steels – low alloy and low carbon steels. What’s more, you can also use this technique for rusty sheet metal.

Gas cutting uses various gases to heat up materials. Among them are natural gas, propylene, as well as propane, which is suitable for thick sheets, and acetylene for thin sheets.

Oxygen cutting, however, is a very economical method. It also allows cutting at different angles and includes a wide range when it comes to the thickness of the material being cut.

Applications

Oxygencutting is used for objects, steel surfaces. It is suitable for materials from 3 to as much as 200 millimeters thick. You can also use this technique to cut rust-covered sheets. Unfortunately, gas cutting has a rather small range in terms of the materials that can be cut.

Unihut – cutting with precision

Both oxyfuel, plasma and oxygen cutting are offered by Unihut, whose goal every day is to guarantee all customers’ satisfaction and satisfaction with the services it provides. Unihut offers a range of services, including but not limited to laser cutting, machining, furnace cutting and the like. All tasks and orders are carried out using the highest quality equipment and mechanisms. As a result, customers can be sure that their orders will be carried out with the utmost precision.

This is because Eagle’s eVision series laser is used for cutting. Thanks to this, both laser, plasma and oxygen cutting, as well as sheet metal bending and rolling are carried out with attention to even the smallest details.

The company also makes sure that the execution of orders is very fast and prices are attractive. It’s no wonder, then, that the brand has made a strong name for itself in the electrical, furnace, power and mechanical industries. In addition to professional equipment, it’s also worth remembering that Unihut is staffed by highly qualified professionals with vast, long-standing experience in their engineering and technical work.