The Esab Group Inc.

Joseph V Warren, Jr

Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar

Chester E Stanley

A plasma arc torch both cutting and marking of metal workpieces includes a plasma nozzle having a plasma nozzle orifice through which an electric arc from an electrode and a stream of plasma gas are emitted toward a workpiece, and a liquid-injection shield cup that injects liquid tangentially inwardly to the arc and stream of plasma gas. A power supply is operable to selectively deliver electrical power to the electrode at either a low power level suitable for marking of a workpiece or a high power level suitable for workpiece cutting. The torch may be selectively operated to mark at the low power level, with a plasma marking gas being delivered to the plasma gas passage, or to cut at the high power level, with a plasma cutting gas being delivered to the plasma gas passage, and liquid being delivered to the liquid injection passage for both cutting and marking.

Method and plasma arc torch system for marking and cutting workpieces with the same set of consumables

A plasma marking torch for marking metal workpieces with lines, numbers, or symbols, and which utilizes a non-cutting plasma gas such as argon, and a shield gas which comprises an air/water mist mixture. In one disclosed embodiment, the shield gas passes serially into contact with the electrode and the nozzle so as to efficiently cool the same, and it then passes through an annular orifice surrounding the bore of the nozzle to the workpiece. In another embodiment, provision is made for selectively operating the torch either in a cutting mode, or a marking mode.

Plasma marking torch and method of operating same

A metal cutting apparatus which comprises a longitudinally moveable gantry and a transversely moveable carriage which is mounted on the gantry. The carriage in turn mounts a laser cutting head and a plasma arc cutting head mounted in a parallel, side-by-side arrangement. The apparatus may thus be programmed to operate either the laser cutting head or the plasma arc cutting head as the gantry and carriage move in a predetermined path above the underlying workpiece. The laser generator is mounted in the gantry so that the beam is transported to the laser head with minimal bends and turns. The apparatus may also include a second carriage, which mounts a second laser cutting head and second plasma arc cutting head, so as to permit simultaneous cutting along two cut lines.

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Florence, SC, United States of America

Joseph V Warren, Jr