Influence of Preheating on Oxygen Plasma Cutting Process

Abstract

This study aims to develop a new oxygen plasma cutting process for a thick steel plate. In this process, the oxidation reaction is enhanced by preheating the cut surface near the bottom by an additional heat source to realize cutting of the thick plate. In this paper, influence of the preheating process on cutting performance was discussed. Consequently, it was found that the maximum cutting velocity increased with the assistance of the preheating, because the oxidation reaction increased also near the bottom surface. However, in order to decrease the surface roughness and the taper angle, the preheating temperature and the preheating method should be improved in the future.