Hypertherm, Inc.

Qinghua Liu

Zheng Duan

Dennis M Borowy

Shreyansh Patel

Yu Zhang

Jesse A Roberts

Michael Hoffa

Stephen Theodore Eickhoff

Girish R Kamath

Sung Je Kim

Junsong Mao

Justin Gullotta

Bruce P Altobelli

Ashok V Retnaswamy

Richard Pavlik

Zhang Yu

In some aspects, methods for controlling a plasma arc in a plasma torch of a plasma cutting system in a low operating current mode can include: receiving, by a computing device within the plasma power supply, a command to begin a plasma processing operation; generating a pilot arc command to generate a pilot arc within the plasma torch, the generating of the pilot arc command including directing an electrical signal and a gas flow to the plasma torch, the electrical signal being configured to generate the pilot arc at a current having a first arc amperage magnitude; and generating an operational arc command to facilitate a transition from the pilot arc to an operational plasma arc, the generating of the operational arc command including adjusting the current directed to the plasma torch to be a second arc amperage magnitude that is lower than the first arc amperage magnitude.

Operating plasma arc processing systems at reduced current and gas pressure levels and related systems and methods

A method of determining a failure event of consumable for a plasma torch is provided. The method includes monitoring at least one of an operating current or an operating voltage during a transfer arc mode of the plasma arc torch. The method also includes determining when at least one parameter associated with the operating current or the operating voltage exceeds a tolerance threshold for a time period indicative of the failure event. The method further includes shutting off at least one of the operating current or the operating voltage of the plasma arc torch when the at least one parameter exceeds the tolerance threshold for the time period.

Failure event detection in a plasma arc torch

A plasma cutting system is provided. The system includes a power source configured to generate a plasma arc, and a plasma arc torch connected to the power source for delivering the plasma arc to a workpiece. The plasma arc torch defines a multi-function fluid flow path for sustaining the plasma arc and cooling the plasma arc torch such that the plasma cutting system has a power-to-gas flow ratio of at least 2 kilowatts per cubic feet per minute (KW/cfm). The power-to-gas flow ratio comprises a ratio of power of the generated plasma arc to a total gas flow supplied to the plasma arc torch.

Plasma cutting system with efficient components

In some aspects, plasma torch cutting systems can include a housing and a plasma torch power supply within the housing and configured to generate a signal that initiates generation of a plasma arc in a torch head, the power supply including an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of electronic components used to generate the signal that initiates generation of the plasma arc, at least one of the electronic components being at least partially formed of a wide bandgap semiconductor material.

Wide bandgap semiconductor based power supply assemblies for plasma operating systems and related methods and devices

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Etna, NH, United States of America

Qinghua Liu