Posted By Roger Blanchard Hi everyone, I work for a steel stockholder with an existing oxy-propane mechanised profile cutting facility for mild steel (c/w LEV).We are investigating the feasibility of adding a plasma cutting machine for profiling mild steel & possibly stainless steel and are currently obtaining quotes from UK m/c suppliers. I wondered if anyone has knowledge/experience of issues such as fumes, noise, gases emmited etc from plasma machines when cutting MS & SS and what controls (mechanical or otherwise) we should either be requiring the manufacturer and/or supplier to provide or we should implement ourselves? Many thanks for any replies. Regards Roger

Posted By Jane Blunt Noise (maybe up to 100 dB(A)), arc radiation (similar to arc welding), metal fume, gases (including ozone and oxides of nitrogen) and electrical hazards (open circuit voltage is rather higher than arc welding, and there may be HF starting) are all potentially present. However the equipment comes in many different designs and in many the key hazards have been designed out. For instance, cutting underwater can reduce the noise level to 80 dB(A) and can reduce the fume levels to 10% of those from a dry cutting machine. Even if cutting in dry conditions, most of the fume is generated below the plate, which means that by careful design most of the fume can be removed without reaching the operator's breathing zone. So examine the brochures very carefully and see what advantages each machine offers. Jane

Posted By Elmouiz Siddeg Hello Roger, i am also conducting a research in the plasma system, would you please send me links (doc, movie) about it. many thanks Elmouiz