Arc Writer

[countrylife]

On the hypertherm web site there is an "ArcWriter Plasma machine" intended to make identification marks on steel. I've also see a video of a CNC torch used to cut holes and bevels in I beams then writes identification symbols on it. Can the handheld plasma torches do this also? Is it a form of gouging?

[Wrenchtamer]

I know there is a way of using a plasma on cnc to scribe lines in your material for assembly. I think it involves turning the air pressure down but I have never done it so I could be way off. Others here could illuminate I'm sure.

[jimcolt]

The Hypertherm Arc Writer is a low powered plasma system that is specifically designed for plate layout and marking. It uses argon or nitrogen at amperages in the 5 to 7 amp range for precision, high speed marking. The arc writer is not designed to cut through the plate.

Hypertherm's high definition class plasma systems also have the capability of automatically switching from marking at very low power using argon.....to cutting at up to 400 amps with oxygen...this switching occurs in around two seconds and involves some pretty complicated power and gas flow changes....with these systems the cutting and marking is done with the same nozzle.

This process is quite different from our plate gouging....which is a high powered low energy density, aggressive arc for removing welds.

You could probably mark with an air plasma torch by turning the power level to minimum...and moving the torch very fast so that it would not cut all the way through the material. Unfortunately....air is not a good plasma gas for marking as it's oxygen content makes even a low powered plasma arc very aggressive. You could try using nitrogen...or argon to marke with an air plasma torch with better results.....but still the minimum power levels of air plasma systems are still too high to do a decent plate marking job.

Jim Colt Hypertherm


On the hypertherm web site there is an "ArcWriter Plasma machine" intended to make identification marks on steel. I've also see a video of a CNC torch used to cut holes and bevels in I beams then writes identification symbols on it. Can the handheld plasma torches do this also? Is it a form of gouging?

[denrep]

. . .Hypertherm's high definition class plasma systems also have the capability of automatically switching from marking at very low power using argon.....to cutting at up to 400 amps with oxygen...this switching occurs in around two seconds and involves some pretty complicated power and gas flow changes....with these systems the cutting and marking is done with the same nozzle. . . .

Wow! There's some science for you!

--
I'm not sure what Countrylife wants to mark, but there are, or at least used to be, hand held electric arc pencils.

The arc pencil's center "pencil lead" was an arc electrode wrapped with a coil of copper wire. The pencil would be connected to a battery. When the pencil was touched to metal to "write," the electrode would arc and break with a rapid vibration, leaving etched markings on the metal.

The arc pencils worked well but would overheat with heavy use.

Good Luck

[brucer]

friend of mine won an industrial cnc plasma at an auction last year.. it had a plasma torch for cutting and also had a pen punch on it, used for center punching holes and also engraving..

[countrylife]

I really don't have anything to mark. I saw this done in an industrial video and thought it was very interesting. Wanted to find out more about it. It's one of those situations where it is a solution, but no problem to solve - yet.