A 2024 Guide to Choosing the Right Cutting Gas for CNC Plasma Cutting Machine

Choosing the working gas of a CNC plasma cutting machine is an important decision. Different working gases can affect the cutting effect and cutting speed. Here are some suggestions when choosing a working gas for your CNC plasma cutting machine:

Common used gas

Oxygen:

Applicable materials: Suitable for carbon steel and low alloy steel, etc.
Advantages: Using oxygen as cutting gas can achieve high-speed cutting, especially the cutting effect of carbon steel is remarkable.
Note: When cutting with oxygen, the oxides produced may cause the cutting edges to be rough, requiring subsequent processing.

Nitrogen:

Applicable materials: Suitable for stainless steel, aluminum and other non-ferrous materials.
Advantages: Nitrogen cutting can produce smoother cutting edges and is suitable for materials that require higher cutting quality.
Note: In some cases, using nitrogen may reduce cutting speed.

Air (Compressed Air):

Applicable materials: Suitable for some general cutting tasks.
Advantages: Air is a common, cheap cutting gas that works well for some simple cutting tasks.
Note: The air may contain moisture and impurities, so attention needs to be paid to system filtration and processing.

Gas Mixtures:

Applicable materials: For specific applications, a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen can be used, called a cutting gas mixture.
Advantages: The mixing ratio can be adjusted to achieve cutting of different materials.

Choose the right gas for CNC plasma cutting machine

NOTES: The selection of gas mixture needs to be tailored to the specific application and materials.
When selecting a working gas, the following factors need to be considered:

Material type:

Different materials have different requirements for gas, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, etc.

Cut Quality:

Whether a high quality cut edge is required, purer gas may be required for some precision cutting tasks.
Production efficiency: Some gases can increase cutting speed and are suitable for mass production.

Cost:

The costs of different gases are different, and economics need to be considered comprehensively.
When selecting a gas, it is best to consult with the cutting machine manufacturer or supplier and base your decision on their recommendations and recomendations. Additionally, understanding the requirements of specific materials and cutting tasks is key to making the right choice.