Sansha Electric Manufacturing Company, Limited

Sansha Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Takayuki Nishisako

Tetsuro Ikeda

Masahiro Ohashi

A plasma arc power supply with a simple structure and its control method enable shifting from a pilot arc to a main arc. A plasma arc power supply used in a plasma arc apparatus that processes a workpiece by forming a pilot arc between a main electrode and a nozzle electrode and subsequently forming a main arc between the main electrode and the workpiece includes N direct current power supply units (N&#x2267;2) having negative terminals connected to the main electrode and positive terminals to the workpiece, and a switch between the fourth power supply unit and the workpiece. The fourth power supply unit is connected to cause the nozzle electrode to have an opposite polarity to the main electrode. When the switch is open, the fourth power supply unit supplies a small current between the main electrode and the nozzle electrode while forming a pilot arc between them.

Plasma arc power supply and control method therefor

Energy loss due to driving a plurality of power supply units simultaneously in a low-current region is prevented, and a more stable load current is obtained. The generation of a load current in a small-current region from a pilot arc current is handled solely by the power supply unit U, the remaining (N&#x2212;1) power supply units Uthrough Uare driven when the small-current region is exceeded, and a current that is the composite of all the currents is fed to the load, whereby a stable plasma arc power supply is obtained in which power consumption in the low-current region is reduced.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Takayuki Nishisako