Apparatus and methods associated with operating a plasma torch are disclosed. According to some implementations, the apparatus and methods involve the delivery of a process gas to a shuttle valve at first and second pressures for the purpose of altering an axial position of a valve element located inside the shuttle valve. The shuttle valve is configured such that at different axial positions of the valve element the flow of process gas into the plasma torch is altered.

A plasma cutting system includes a power supply that outputs first and second plasma cutting currents. A torch is connected to the power supply and includes a first cathode that receives the first plasma cutting current, a first electrode and swirl ring, a second cathode that receives the second plasma cutting current, and a second electrode and swirl ring. The torch simultaneously generates a first and second plasma arcs from the electrodes. A gas controller is configured to separately control a flow of a first plasma gas to the first swirl ring and a flow of a second plasma gas flow to the second swirl ring. A torch actuator moves the torch during cutting, and includes a motor having a hollow shaft rotor for rotating the torch during cutting. A motion controller is operatively connected to the torch actuator to control movements of the torch during cutting.

A plasma cutting system includes a power supply that outputs first and second plasma cutting currents. A torch is connected to the power supply and includes a first cathode that receives the first plasma cutting current, a first electrode and swirl ring, a second cathode that receives the second plasma cutting current, and a second electrode and swirl ring. The torch simultaneously generates a first and second plasma arcs from the electrodes. A gas controller is configured to separately control a flow of a first plasma gas to the first swirl ring and a flow of a second plasma gas flow to the second swirl ring. A torch actuator moves the torch during cutting, and includes a motor having a hollow shaft rotor for rotating the torch during cutting. A motion controller is operatively connected to the torch actuator to control movements of the torch during cutting.

A silver-copper cutting electrode assembly, and method of manufacture is provided with optimized attributes to allow for improved durability, integrity and manufacturability. An electrode has a silver tip portion which is brazed to a copper body portion where the silver portion and joint have a particular structural relationship.

A silver-copper cutting electrode assembly, and method of manufacture is provided with optimized attributes to allow for improved durability, integrity and manufacturability. An electrode has a silver tip portion which is brazed to a copper body portion where the silver portion and joint have a particular structural relationship.

A suspension coating system using an atmospheric pressure plasma generator includes a support that fixedly supports a substrate, a plasma generator that generates active species through plasma discharge, and includes a nozzle unit of which at least a portion is disposed to face the substrate, and a suspension providing device that transfers a suspension including nanoparticles and a binder to one side of the nozzle unit.

Cutting or welding torch component comprising a ridge (8) forming a thread for connecting the component to other parts of the cutting or welding torch, the thread having a pressure flank (81, 91), a clearance flank (82, 92), a root flat (84, 94) and a crest flat (83, 93), wherein—the angle included by the pressure flank (81, 91) and clearance flank (82, 92) is 60° or less, —the angle α included by the pressure flank (81, 91) and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10, 20, 30) of the thread is 40° to 50°, —the angle β included by the clearance flank (82, 92) and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10, 20, 30) of the thread is 0° to 20°, and—the height (VZ) of the ridge (8) is 0.4 times the pitch of the thread or less.

Cutting or welding torch component comprising a ridge (8) forming a thread for connecting the component to other parts of the cutting or welding torch, the thread having a pressure flank (81, 91), a clearance flank (82, 92), a root flat (84, 94) and a crest flat (83, 93), wherein—the angle included by the pressure flank (81, 91) and clearance flank (82, 92) is 60° or less, —the angle α included by the pressure flank (81, 91) and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10, 20, 30) of the thread is 40° to 50°, —the angle β included by the clearance flank (82, 92) and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (10, 20, 30) of the thread is 0° to 20°, and—the height (VZ) of the ridge (8) is 0.4 times the pitch of the thread or less.

The invention relates to a method and a device for strengthening the surface of workpieces, in particular of metal ones, by mechanical effects accompanying the impact of small projectiles or by mechanical effects accompanied by the impact of a shockwave induced by plasma created by electric evaporation of a metal foil. The device comprises a polymer strip with a metal foil on the surface of the side diverted from the surface of the workpiece in which foil bridges are formed to form projectiles, further comprising two electrodes and adjacent to the metal foil located on the polymer strip, wherein bridges are formed between the contact surface areas of the metal foil, and the electrodes and between which the plasma is formed, are mounted in a support body, through which flat conductors and are connected to a switch for switching large currents and high voltages with a high-voltage source. The polymer strip with the metal foil tightly abuts the support body with the electrodes and the electrodes and protrude above the upper surface of the support body to provide electric contact with the contact surface areas of the applied metal foil. The method of strengthening the surface of workpieces by means of the device according to the invention consists in that one cycle of strengthening the surface of workpieces involves the action of an electric current pulse supplied from a high voltage source after closing the switch by conductors to electrodes between which a high voltage is applied, thereby shorting the circuit on the metal foil at the location of the bridges to form a plasma expanding and by a compressive force acting on the polymer strip part of which hits as a projectile the surface of the workpiece. The plasma is generated by the electric current pulse, in addition to the expansion pressure, is also accelerated by the electromagnetic Lorentz force caused by the passage of electric current, through this plasma in the generated magnetic field.

A consumable for a torch head is disclosed. The consumable for a torch head includes a frustoconical operative end, and a concave outer surface formed on the frustoconical operative end. The concave outer surface is configured to guide a flow of gas to a focal point downstream of the frustoconical operative end.