Systems, devices, and methods generating a plasma flow are disclosed. A method may include applying energy that alternates between being at a base level for a first duration and at a pulse level for a second duration according to a controlled pattern, generating a plasma flow having a directional axis, and discharging the plasma flow alternating between a base configuration and a pulse configuration according to the controlled pattern. The plasma flow in the base configuration may have (1) a first temperature at the outlet and (2) a first flow front that advances along the directional axis. The plasma flow in the pulse configuration may have (1) a second temperature at the outlet that is greater than the first temperature and (2) a second flow front that advances along the directional axis at a speed greater than the first flow front.

A system for plasma ignition and maintenance of an atmospheric pressure plasma. The system has a variable frequency alternating current (AC) power source, a transformer, a cable connected to a secondary winding of the transformer, a programmed microprocessor for control of power to the atmospheric pressure plasma. The microprocessor is configured to a) at pre-ignition, power the AC power source at an operational frequency f.sub.op higher than the resonant frequency f.sub.r, b) decrease the operational frequency f.sub.op of the AC power source until there is plasma ignition, and c) after the plasma ignition, further decrease the operational frequency f.sub.op of the AC power source to a frequency lower than the resonant frequency f.sub.r.

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.

A plasma processing apparatus, for releasing plasma-converted gas from plasma head for performing process, detects the pressures of a gas prior to application of a voltage to electrodes of the plasma head, the gas being supplied from gas supply section to a plasma head, and allow initiation of process by the plasma processing apparatus based on the detected pressures.

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.

Method and apparatus for monitoring and diagnosing gun performance is derived that can determine proper gun operation and if not operating properly diagnose potential causes for abhorrent operation. The voltage produced by the gun is sampled in real time and the frequency spectrum produced analyzed using FFT and then reducing the FFT pattern down to a set of numerical values or a signature that can be compared to known signatures for both correct operation and abnormal operation. Using best fit techniques the cause of any abnormal behavior can then be identified. The method can also be used to predict the end of hardware life and aid in production scheduling and spare parts acquisition by providing advanced notice of wear and usage.

A plasma emitting device includes plasma head configured to generate a plasmarized gas and jet the plasmarized gas so generated from a nozzle thereof, a gas supply device configured to supply a gas to the plasma head while controlling a flow rate of the gas, gas tube connecting the gas supply device with the plasma head to constitute a gas flow path, and pressure detector configured to detect a pressure of the gas supplied from the gas supply deice. Pressures of gases which are supplied to the plasma head are detected for use for various purposes, whereby the practical plasma emitting device is made up. Specifically, for example, a head clogging, which is a clog impeding a gas flow in the plasma head, can be determined without difficulty based on the detected pressure.

The invention features a replaceable cartridge for a plasma arc torch. The cartridge includes a cartridge body having a first section and a second section. The first and second sections are joined at an interface to form a substantially hollow chamber. The interface provides a coupling force that secures the first and second sections together. The cartridge also includes an arc constricting member located in the second section; an electrode included within the substantially hollow chamber; and a contact start spring element affixed to the electrode. The spring element imparts a separating force that biases the electrode toward at least one of the first section or the second section of the body. The separating force has a magnitude that is less than a magnitude of the coupling force.

A surface processing equipment using an energy beam including a measuring device, a gas source, an energy beam supply device, a multi-axis platform, and a processing device is provided. The measuring device measures a workpiece to obtain surface form information. The energy beam supply device receives a processing gas to form an energy beam. The energy beam supply device includes a rotating sleeve. Openings are on a bottom surface of the rotating sleeve. The rotating sleeve rotates along a rotation axis and supplies the energy beam from one of the openings to the workpiece. The processing device controls the gas source, the energy beam supply device, and the multi-axis platform according to the surface form information. Distances from each opening to the rotation axis are all different. The energy beam is formed into a beam shape or rings having different radii via a rotation of the energy beam supply device.

The invention relates to a plasma torch, preferably to a plasma cutting torch, in which a plasma gas PG1 and/or PG2 flows through at least one feed through a housing of the plasma torch gas up to a nozzle opening. A hollow space connected to the feed(s) is also present within the housing and a valve which opens and closes an opening is arranged at the opening at said hollow space and a leading off of plasma gas PG1 and/or PG2 out of the feed(s) up to the nozzle opening can be achieved in the open state of this valve.