Abstract
The Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) process was developed for difficult-to-machine materials in order to overcome the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of conventional machining methods when it comes to complex shapes and tool wear due to the contact between the tool and the workpiece. PAC consumes ionized gas, known as the heat source, and a high energy stream, known as the plasma. Many researchers have examined the PAC of steel alloys by considering the cutting power, scanning speed, cutting height and plasma gas pressure as the process parameters, and analysing the effects on the edge roughness, the kerf taper angle (conicity), burr formation, Heat Affected Zone (HAZ), Material Removal Rate (MRR), surface quality after cutting, and the metallurgical effects of the cut. A comprehensive review was carried out on developments in the analysis and optimization of PAC for steel alloys. It is observed that, the feed rate and edge roughness have a significant effect on the machining characteristics; however, less consideration was given by the researcher to these parameters. In addition, a critical comparison was made of the process parameters involved and the methods of analysis used, with the aim of providing the status of current research and guidance for future research.
Highlights
Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) is a non-conventional process which can perform several electrically conducting materials, stainless steel, aluminum and its alloys, magnesium, titanium alloys, manganese steel and cast iron
This paper presents a comprehensive review on the developments in analysis and optimization of PAC for Steel Alloys as well as a critical comparison of the process parameters involved and analyses methods used, aiming to let more experts know the current research status and provide some guidance for future
Those inaccuracies are not common for PAC processes only, they occur in other cutting processes as well
Summary
Plasma Arc Cutting (PAC) is a non-conventional process which can perform several electrically conducting materials, stainless steel, aluminum and its alloys, magnesium, titanium alloys, manganese steel and cast iron. Plasma cutting process is invented about 30 years ago for processing hard and difficult to machine materials. The aim of the study is to gather different studies from the published papers to highlight which studies are carried out about plasma arc cutting machine. Salonitis et al (2012) observed that nitrogen or argon-hydrogen combination is used as plasma gas for cutting process. Due to the high temperature, plasma expands and flows with supersonic velocity speed from nozzle to the work-piece. Temperature can rise up to 30,000 °C. Temperature can be adjusted relatively to material thickness and cutting speeds of electrically conductive materials. The stability of the arc is prior for the desirable performances
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