An atmospheric pressure plasma device including a plasma head; a gas tube configured to supply a gas to the plasma head; a flow rate controller configured to control a flow rate of the gas supplied to the gas tube; a pressure sensor arranged downstream of the flow rate controller and configured to detect a pressure in the gas tube; and a determining section configured to determine a state of the device based on how the pressure in the gas tube deviates from a standard value specified for each flow rate of the supplied gas. As a result, it is possible to determine the gas leakage of the atmospheric pressure plasma device. Further, it is possible to determine whether plasma is being generated in a favorable state.

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.

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.

A system for generating magnetized plasma and sustaining plasma's magnetic field comprises a plasma generator for generating magnetized plasma and a flux conserver in which the generated magnetized plasma is injected and confined. A central conductor comprises an upper central conductor and a lower central conductor that are electrically connected forming a single integrated conductor. The upper central conductor and an outer electrode form an annular plasma propagating channel. The lower central conductor extends out of the plasma generator and into the flux conserver such that an end of the inner electrode is electrically connected to a wall of the flux conserver. A power system provides a formation current pulse and a sustainment current pulse to the central conductor to form the magnetized plasma, inject such plasma into the flux conserver and sustain plasma's magnetic field.

Methods for forming pierce holes in a metal workpiece are disclosed. According to one implementation, upon a plasma torch be energized, the cutting axis of the torch is rotated repeatedly between first and second angular positions to produce successively deeper pierces in a workpiece until a pierce hole is produced through a thickness of the workpiece. According to other implementations pierce holes are produced by rotating the cutting axis of the plasma torch tip around a designated central axis of the pierce hole in a diametrically reducing manner so that the produced pierce hole has a tapered profile with a cross-sectional area of the pierce hole at a top surface of the workpiece being greater than a cross-sectional area of the pierced hole at a bottom surface of the workpiece.

Methods for forming pierce holes in a metal workpiece are disclosed. According to one implementation, upon a plasma torch be energized, the cutting axis of the torch is rotated repeatedly between first and second angular positions to produce successively deeper pierces in a workpiece until a pierce hole is produced through a thickness of the workpiece. According to other implementations pierce holes are produced by rotating the cutting axis of the plasma torch tip around a designated central axis of the pierce hole in a diametrically reducing manner so that the produced pierce hole has a tapered profile with a cross-sectional area of the pierce hole at a top surface of the workpiece being greater than a cross-sectional area of the pierced hole at a bottom surface of the workpiece.

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.

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 cooling component suitable for cooling an electrical component disposed in a power source of a welding or cutting system includes a heat transfer surface, an inlet, an outlet, and a closed flow area. The heat transfer surface transfers heat away from the electrical component. The inlet receives process gas from a gas source and the outlet directs the process gas downstream towards a torch assembly. The closed flow area extends between the inlet and the outlet and is in thermal communication with the heat transfer surface so that the process gas enhances cooling of the electrical component as the process gas travels through the closed flow area, from the inlet to the outlet.

A cooling component suitable for cooling an electrical component disposed in a power source of a welding or cutting system includes a heat transfer surface, an inlet, an outlet, and a closed flow area. The heat transfer surface transfers heat away from the electrical component. The inlet receives process gas from a gas source and the outlet directs the process gas downstream towards a torch assembly. The closed flow area extends between the inlet and the outlet and is in thermal communication with the heat transfer surface so that the process gas enhances cooling of the electrical component as the process gas travels through the closed flow area, from the inlet to the outlet.