A plasma arc torch is provided for use in a plasma cutting system. The plasma arc torch includes a torch body for conducting electrical current. The torch body includes a torch tip configured to pass the electrical current to at least one consumable component connected to the tip. The plasma arc torch also includes at least one antenna positioned relative to the torch tip. The antenna is used to wirelessly detect the presence of the at least one consumable component. The plasma arc torch further includes a detection circuit configured to permit passing of the electrical current from the torch tip to the at least one consumable component based on at least the wireless detection.

A material processing system for performing a processing operation includes a processor that receives information from a user relating to a proposed processing operation to be performed by the material processing system. The processor determines, responsive to the information received from the user, two or more configurations of consumable components for performing the proposed processing operation and estimates processing performance capabilities associated with using each configuration of consumable components. An interactive display presents the estimated processing performance capabilities to the user for selection.

The invention relates to an electrode arrangement for a plasma jet device comprising a first and a second printed circuit board each having an exposed surface of a circuit path serving as electrode and facing the other printed circuit board, a spacer arranged between the first and second circuit board and a plasma cell arranged between the first and second printed circuit board and the spacer wherein the plasma cell has a gas inlet and a plasma outlet. The invention further relates to a plasma head comprising said electrode arrangement.

In some aspects, a replaceable consumable component for performing a cutting or welding operation can include a body and a readable data storage device coupled to the body or integrated within the body, wherein the data storage device contains an operation instruction for a cutting or welding device.

According to one embodiment, a welding or plasma cutting system is provided that includes a torch having a torch body. Located on or in the torch body are one or more status indicators that provide, for example, a status of a process parameter (e.g. current data, pressure data, etc.) and/or of an operating mode of the torches. Control circuitry coupled to the one or more status indicators is configured to activate the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation through use of the torch and to deactivate the one or more status indicators during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by the torch. An associated method of operating the torch includes activating the one or more status indicators prior to a carrying out of a welding or plasma cutting operation by use of the torch, and during a time when the welding or plasma cutting operation is being carried out by use of the torch, deactivating the one or more status indicators.

In some aspects, material processing head can include a body; an antenna disposed within the body; a first tag, associated with a first consumable component, disposed within a flux communication zone of the body at a first distance from the antenna, the first tag having a first resonant frequency; and a second tag, associated with a second consumable component, disposed within the flux communication zone of the body at a second distance from the antenna, the second tag having a second resonant frequency that is different than the first resonant frequency, where the first and second resonant frequencies are tuned based upon at least one of: i) a difference between the first distance and the second distance; or ii) a characteristic (e.g., shape) of the flux communication zone in which the first tag and/or the second tag is disposed.

A plasma torch moves to a piercing position. The plasma torch generates a plasma arc and starts a piercing step at the piercing position. Whether the piercing step is completed is determined based on the arc voltage. The plasma torch is held at the piercing position in the horizontal direction from the start of the piercing step until the completion of the piercing step. The plasma torch is moved in a predetermined direction including at least the horizontal direction after the piercing step is completed.

In some aspects, methods for preserving a usable life of a plasma arc electrode consumable installed in a plasma arc torch can include measuring a characteristic of an electrical signal being provided to the torch to generate a plasma arc between the torch and a workpiece to be processed; monitoring the characteristic during operation of the torch over a time period; comparing the characteristic to a threshold value; and, responsive to determining that a measured characteristic meets and/or exceeds the threshold value, initiating an arc extinguishing sequence to preserve the life of the electrode.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a plasma generator capable of efficiently identifying the cause of an abnormal stoppage when an abnormal stoppage of the plasma generator occurs. When the controller determines that at least one detected value has become an abnormal value, the controller terminates plasma generation control. Further, in response to starting plasma generation control, the controller causes the storage section to store a history of detected values in association with time. As a result, it is possible to provide a history of detected values stored in the storage section to efficiently identify the cause of the abnormal stoppage.

Atmospheric-pressure plasma generation device of the present invention includes heat sinks. Flow paths are formed in the heat sinks, and cooling gas flows in the flow paths, thereby cooling lower housing in which a reaction chamber is formed. Here, the gas used for cooling is warmed by the heat of the lower housing. The warmed gas is supplied into heated gas supply device and heated by heater. The heated gas flows in lower cover and is emitted together with plasma gas from lower cover toward a processing object. Consequently, it is possible to perform cooling of the lower housing heated by electric discharge and perform heating of the processing object, and it is possible to reduce energy required for heating gas.