A slag removal apparatus for removing slag from support plates provided to support an object to be processed in a cutting machine is disclosed. The slag removal apparatus includes a scraper including a plurality of blades around an outer surface of a bar crossing the support plates, and a plurality of slots formed in the respective blades along a length direction and thus formed around the bar and in a length direction of the bar, a rotation support unit to which the scraper is rotatably installed, a rotation driving unit rotating the scraper from the rotation support unit to remove slag attached to the support plates by the blades, when the support plates are inserted into the slots, a lifting unit lowering the scraper, for insertion of the support plates into the slots and raising the scraper to an original position by raising and lowering the rotation support unit, and a first transfer unit moving the rotation support unit along a length direction of the support plates to allow the scraper to remove the slag along the length direction of the support plates.

A surface treatment system includes a holder configured to secure an object within the holder and a surface treatment device that is configured to treat a surface of the object within the holder with two types of surface treatments. The device is capable of producing a plasma or a flame at its nozzle for surface treatment. By controlling the materials supplied to the device and the way in which is operated, either a flame or plasma is produced. Thus, the surface treatment system is capable of treating a wide range of materials for printing by a direct-to-object printer.

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.

A method includes projecting energy onto an annular edge of a glass substrate. The annular edge includes a first roughness. The first roughness is reduced to a second roughness with the energy. The energy reduces the first roughness without changing a roundness of the annular edge of the glass substrate.

In some aspects, methods for controlling a pneumatic system in a plasma arc processing system can include: receiving, by a computing device, a command to begin a plasma processing operation; generating a valve command signal for a valve that includes an operational drive voltage of at least about 125% of a continuous duty cycle coil voltage rating of the valve to open the valve; and once open, adjusting the valve command signal to facilitate a steady state operation to: monitor a steady state operational duty cycle of the valve, the steady state operational duty cycle being determined by comparing the continuous duty cycle coil voltage rating of the valve to an actual operational drive voltage supplied to the valve, and control the operational drive voltage supplied to the valve to maintain a steady state operational duty cycle of the valve at less than about 60% during steady state operation.

A method of installing a fixture or bracket in a fuselage structure of an aircraft or spacecraft. The method includes arranging an apparatus in, on or adjacent the structure, pre-treating a surface region of the structure by heat ablation using the apparatus and forming the fixture in situ on the structure at the pre-treated surface region using the apparatus based on a digital model of the fixture. The fixture is installed by connecting the fixture to the structure at the pre-treated surface region as the fixture is formed.

At least one device (1) and at least one method for removing a layer (22) from a substrate (20) by applying a pulsed high voltage are disclosed. For this purpose, at least one pressure plasma burner (2) operating at atmospheric-pressure, a high-voltage source (3), and a supply of process gas (4) are required. Via a gas line (10), the supply of process gas (4) is connected with an inlet (6) of the plasma burner (2). The plasma burner (2) has a nozzle (7) through which a plasma jet (8) emerges. The high-voltage source (3) is configured such that a pulsed high voltage is applied between the plasma burner (2) and an electrically conductive element (11), which pulsed high voltage reaches a breakdown voltage in the region (29) of the conductive element (11).

A localized heating device includes a plasma deforming portion and a heating portion. The plasma deforming portion includes an inlet end having a circular hole, an outlet end having an elongated hole with a first length and a first width, and a channel smoothly connected with the circular hole and the elongated hole. The heating portion, disposed at the outlet end, includes two control covers spaced by a slot. The elongated hole and the slot being oppositely disposed with respect to the plasma deforming portion. A plasma flow provided by a plasma producing source being to enter the channel via the circular hole, then to flow through the elongated hole, and finally to reach the slot.

A method of removing materials by their disintegration, especially metal tubes and non-metal materials, particularly in an area of a borehole, by thermal disintegration of materials by action of plasma created in a plasma generator, by hydrodynamic and/or gravitational removing of disintegrated materials from the area of the borehole, characterized in that a directed flow of water vapour-based plasma acts on material being disintegrated and disintegrates it by synergetic simultaneous effect of thermal action and exothermic chemical reactions.

A plasma arc torch includes a cathode extending along an axis of the torch, a pilot arc conductor, and a nozzle body. A first fluid conduit and second fluid conduit extend parallel to the axis of the torch. A first offset fitting includes a first duct coupled to and in fluid communication with the first fluid conduit, and a second duct in fluid communication with the first duct and outwardly radially offset from the first duct and extending away from the first duct in a proximal direction. A second offset fitting includes a third duct coupled to and in fluid communication with the second fluid conduit, and a fourth duct in fluid communication with the third duct and outwardly radially offset from the third duct and extending away from the third duct in the proximal direction. A spring compression plug electrically connects the pilot arc conductor to the nozzle body.