Plasma Cutting Aluminum Fumes

However some sources do say that aluminum is especially nasty for fumes and can potentially be associated with major health issues like alzheimer s disease.

Plasma cutting aluminum fumes. Although plasma can cut through painted metal it does require a solid connection on a clean part of the workpiece as close as practical to the work. Because it s a thermal cutting process it produces plasma cutting smoke. Whether you re using a plasma cutter for home improvement purpose or in an industry safety is an essential part of getting the job done. Potential hazards of cutting with a plasma cutter arise mainly due to exposures to metal fumes and to ultraviolet radiation.

This isn t so much specific to aluminum as much as it is just a general safety concern. In this video we plasma cut 5052 aluminum parts for my mustang. An inert gas is blown at high speeds through a nozzle. The hidden dangers of plasma cutting smoke.

In any discussion about how to cut metal plasma cutting is right up there with laser and waterjet. There are five preconceptions that many fabricators have about turning to plasma to cut aluminum. Welding is the occupation most likely to result in this condition but plasma fumes and laser cutting fumes can also cause it. The technology gets a bad rap though when the discussion turns to cutting aluminum.

The occupational safety and health administration sets standards for metal working activities such as welding cutting and brazing see reference 1. A characteristic of dry cutting aluminum is the amount of dust that it creates during the cutting process. The effects of these operations include. See what the finished parts look like installed on my instagram page.

Because fumes gases and metal dust are created. Plasma cutting is used for metals that require high temperatures to be split like aluminum stainless steel and copper. Plasma cutting is one of the most popular processes for cutting steel and other metals in many manufacturing shops. Osha safety standard for plasma dust.

A cutting speed chart showing the rated cutting speed for the power source for mild steel aluminum and stainless steel of various thicknesses. It is also a hobby for many metal cutting enthusiasts. These activities involve the use of various technologies including plasma torches. During the plasma cutting process unbreathable dust smoke and gases are produced which may include nitrogen argon hydrogen and mixtures with oxygen.

It s often reported that drinking milk can help prevent this condition and many people swear by it. You may have to then spend some money on a system to help remove that dust. The challenges of cutting aluminum. Are there dangerous fumes when plasma cutting aluminum.