cut non-conductive materials with a plasma cutter

[HoleshotHolset]

I found this website while shopping for welders/plasma cutters...



http://members.cox.net/divtec2/id2.htm



Here's the description of how to cut non-conductive materials:

"I have developed a technique to cut non-conductive material with these machines. I have cut glass, rubber (3/16"), wood (1/4"). Theory is... lay sheet metal over the top of non-conductive material... the cutting arc is maintained by the sheet metal and the plasma (50,000 deg. F) extends apx. 1" below. So... as one cuts the metal so does the material undernieth get vaporized. Best with a gasket material (like leather) sandwiched between. Let your creativity flow... and please email me the results. "



I think this will work pretty slick. I've never tried it, though.



Matt

 

[MKoth]

So, he is basically using the extra partical stream to cut whatever is under the conductive material?



Sounds like it should work, as long as the material is less then 1" thick.



Might have to find some scraps of differnt materials and play with the plasma sometime.

 

[NPloysa]

Seems so simple. Wonder why it hadn't been discovered before (not that I would!)?

 

[RDupree]

this is really quite an old technique. its been done for years. another thing you can do with a torch is to put a sheet of steel over stainless steel and cut it with an oxy/ace torch. i've been welding for 35 years... ...

 

[nickleinonen]

i've seen pictures of concrete being cut with an oxygen lance... not sure how they preheated the concrete to get it to burn though... the glass cutting thing sounds interesting...

 

[HoleshotHolset]

another thing you can do with a torch is to put a sheet of steel over stainless steel and cut it with an oxy/ace torch.

What is the net effect of doing this? What are the advantages of doing this rather than just cutting the stainless directly?



Don't you risk contaminating the stainless with the carbon steel by doing this? Some shops won't even have carbon/stainless in the same room... nevermind letting them touch...



Matt

 

[nickleinonen]

What is the net effect of doing this? What are the advantages of doing this rather than just cutting the stainless directly?



Don't you risk contaminating the stainless with the carbon steel by doing this? Some shops won't even have carbon/stainless in the same room... nevermind letting them touch...



Matt

try cutting stainless with an oxy/acy setup... it will glow and that's about it... it won't burn like mild steel... plasma or arc/air is needed to cut stainless...



i get the joy of that sometimes, when having to burn off hardened wear plates someone decided to weld in with some stainless rods... can burn the wearplate, but not the weld, so i just cut the new wear plate to fit inbetween the stainless welds, and weld it in with some plain old 7018 rod. it just needs to hold the wearplate in place, not be structual

 

[HoleshotHolset]

try cutting stainless with an oxy/acy setup... it will glow and that's about it... it won't burn like mild steel... plasma or arc/air is needed to cut stainless...

My experience with stainless is extremely limited. My oxy-fuel experience is even more limited... That's interesting... you'd think it would cut just like 'low nickel' steel... just shows how much I know about oxy-fuel - zilch!



I cut just about every common household material with my old Hypertherm Powermax 380... never did get to try stainless, though. The new owners in PA are enjoying that machine now. :{



Matt