Influence of plasma torch design on cutting quality during precision air-plasma cutting of metal

Optical interferometry and metallographic analysis were used to study the structure of cutting seams obtained after 09G2S steel cutting by a PMVR-5 plasma torch. These plasma torches have many design features in the gas-dynamic stabilization system of the plasma arc. The application of a new plasma torch can obtain higher quality and lower energy costs of cutting medium-thick 09G2S steel. Metallographic analysis has shown that the qualitative composition of the cut surface structure is almost the same, so priority criteria for comparative quality analysis are surface microgeometry parameters. The parameter evaluation shows high quality of cutting almost along the entire length of a cut, since the technological feature influence of plasma arc cut into the metal affects less than 0.3 mm from the sheet edge. The use of additional methods of gas-dynamic stabilization in PMVR-5.2 plasma torch (feed symmetry with a double swirl system of plasma-forming gas) makes it possible to achieve additional advantages in terms of surface quality compared to PMVR-5.1. A number of features that affects cut quality when cutting metals of different thicknesses for welding depends on the inclination angle of a plasma torch during cutting. Estimates of the surface layer hardness indicate minimal deviations from the requirements of GAZPROM Standard 2-2.4-083 (instructions on welding technologies in the construction and repair of field and main gas pipelines), which allows further use of cutting seams obtained by studied plasma torches for welding without removing thermal influence zones. Thus, the application of new plasma torches for precision-finishing plasma cutting of metals, including production of welded joints, is possible.