Manual

ULTRA-CUT 100 XT
Manual 0-5303 OPERATION 4-15
4.10 Gas Selection
A. Plasma Gases
1. Air Plasma
• Mostoftenusedonferrousorcarbonbasematerialsforgoodqualityatfastercuttingspeeds.
• Airplasmaisnormallyusedwithairshield.
• Onlyclean,dryairisrecommendedforuseasplasmagas.Anyoilormoistureintheairsupplywill
substantially reduce torch parts life.
• Providessatisfactoryresultsonnonferrousmaterials.
2. Argon/Hydrogen (H35) Plasma
• Recommendedforuseon3/4in(19mm)andthickerstainlesssteel.Recommendedfor1/2inch(12mm)
and thicker nonferrous materials. Ar/H2 is not normally used for thinner nonferrous materials because
less expensive gases can achieve similar cut quality.
• Poorcutqualityonferrousmaterials.
• Providesfastercuttingspeedsandhighcutqualityonthickermaterialstooffsetthehighercost.
• A65%argon/35%hydrogenmixtureshouldbeused.
3. Oxygen (O2) Plasma
• Oxygenisrecommendedforcuttingferrousmaterials.
• Providesfastercuttingspeeds.
• Providesverysmoothnishesandminimizesnitridebuilduponcutsurface(nitridebuildupcancause
difficulties in producing high quality welds if not removed).
4. Nitrogen (N2) Plasma
• Providesbettercutqualityonnonferrousmaterialssuchasstainlesssteelandaluminum.
• Canbeusedinplaceofairplasmawithairshield.
• Agoodcleanweldinggradenitrogenshouldbeused.
• Whenusedwithawatermistsecondaryitproducessuperiorcutspeedsandcutqualityonstainlesssteel
and aluminum.
5.H17Plasma(17.5%Hydrogen/32.5%Argon/50%Nitrogen)
•Recommendedfor1/2inch(12mm)andthickernonferrousmaterials.H17isnotnormallyusedforthin-
ner nonferrous materials because less expensive gases can achieve similar cut quality.
•AlternativetoH35Plasma.Yieldsslightlyhighercutspeedsandsimilarcutquality.
•WhenusingH17,thegasshouldbesuppliedtothegassupplyportmarked“H35”.
•Poorcutqualityonferrousmaterials.