Plate Processing

Thermal cutting and plasma cutting are two common methods used to cut metal, but they differ in the way they generate heat to melt and cut through the metal.

Thermal cutting is a general term that refers to any process that uses heat to cut through metal. The most common types of thermal cutting are oxy-fuel cutting and laser cutting. In oxy-fuel cutting, a mixture of fuel gas and oxygen is used to create a flame that melts the metal and a jet of high-pressure oxygen is used to blow away the molten metal, resulting in a cut. In laser cutting, a high-energy laser beam is used to melt and cut through the metal.

Plasma cutting, on the other hand, is a specific type of thermal cutting that uses a plasma arc to melt and cut through metal. The plasma arc is generated by passing a gas through a constricted opening and then adding an electrical current to ionize the gas, which creates a plasma that can melt and cut through metal.

The main difference between thermal cutting and plasma cutting is the way the heat is generated. In thermal cutting, heat is generated either by combustion (in the case of oxy-fuel cutting) or by the laser beam. In plasma cutting, heat is generated by the plasma arc. Plasma cutting is typically faster and more precise than oxy-fuel cutting, and it can be used on a wider range of materials, including non-ferrous metals such as aluminum and copper.

In summary, while both thermal cutting and plasma cutting are used to cut metal, plasma cutting is a specific type of thermal cutting that uses a plasma arc to generate heat and is typically faster and more precise than oxy-fuel cutting.

When it comes to heavy steel plate cutting, the most suitable thermal cutting technique is usually oxy-fuel cutting. This is because oxy-fuel cutting is a highly efficient cutting process that can cut through thick steel plates quickly and with high precision.

In oxy-fuel cutting, a mixture of fuel gas and oxygen is used to create a flame that heats the metal to its ignition point, causing it to melt and be blown away by a jet of high-pressure oxygen. The process can be used to cut through steel plates up to several feet thick, making it an ideal choice for heavy steel plate cutting.

One of the advantages of oxy-fuel cutting is that it is a relatively low-cost cutting method compared to other thermal cutting techniques, such as laser cutting. Additionally, oxy-fuel cutting can be used in a wide range of applications, including metal fabrication, shipbuilding, and construction.