相比于 等離子切割系統，火焰切割系統或氧燃料切割炬是厚度超過 1 英寸的低碳鋼的實用選擇，而等離子割炬則適用于較薄的材料，無論是黑色金屬還是有色金屬。

To start, let's wrap our heads around how does the 2 systems work.

等離子切割機如何工作？

等離子切割機使用壓縮空氣、氮氣、氧氣等氣體，并通過該氣體發出電弧。這會將氣體變成等離子，然后快速沖破金屬，以高速切割金屬。

That high speed plasma is called the “plasma jet”, and it almost instantly heats the metal to around 30,000-40,000 °F and at extremely high speeds like 20,000 feet per 2nd – this is basically why plasma cutter is so fast. That's a pretty insane temperature.

本質上，等離子切割只是以可控的方式焚化材料。

此外，還有一層氣簾保護切割區域，提高切割質量。它有助于使切割更直、更薄。

火焰切割炬如何工作？

If you think that a flame cutting torch simply melts the material away, that's only half the answer.

A flame cutting torch works by adding a blast of oxygen to the flame which oxidizes the steel and turns it into slag. Essentially, it's a chemical reaction between the oxygen and the steel. The heat just makes this reaction happen really fast.

可以將其想象成一種超快速且可控的生銹。

火焰將鋼預熱至約 1800 華氏度，加壓氧氣會氧化并炸掉材料。

因此，從本質上講，您可以切割的低碳鋼的厚度等于您可以加熱和用加壓氧氣流噴射的量。使用較大的設備，切割深度可以相當深 - 您可以切割厚度超過一英尺的鋼材。只是需要一段時間。

等離子切割系統 VS 火焰切割系統

讓我們比較一下等離子切割系統和火焰切割系統的區別：

應用

等離子切割在這方面確實大放異彩——由于等離子只是帶電氣體，等離子切割機基本上可以切割任何導電材料。鋁、鋼、不銹鋼、黃銅、銅，只要你說得出來，等離子切割機都能快速完成。

For flame cutting torches, the answer is a little more complicated. They're intended for mild steel, but there's an asterisk on that statement.

If you've played around with one yourself, you'll know that you actually can cut through thinner aluminum and stainless, as well as other materials. But the cuts will be ugly and messy. Here's why:

The process is intended to oxidize the metal. Stainless and aluminum don't really oxidize much. So instead of turning the metal into slag, you're actually just melting a gap in the material, and the force of the flame is pushing it out. You can't cut these materials when they're thick, this more so happens for sheet metal.

So the technical answer is that you can get through these other materials if they're thin, but it's gonna be ugly. Also, the surrounding metal will be really affected by the heat, which will mean that you can get some crazy warping (like with stainless) or a massive heat affected zone (like with alloy steel). Basically, it's just mild steel that's recommended for cutting torches.

厚度

Oxyfuel torches eat thick steel for breakfast. If you're trying to get through a 4″ thick steel axle, then the cutting torch is your tool.

The really heavy duty ones can cut through as much as 4 feet of solid steel. Honestly, it's pretty unlikely that you'll encounter this on a regular basis, but you never know, right? The part to remember is that you can slice through an engine block, as long as it's made of iron and not aluminum.

不過，對于大多數設備來說，如果你有一個大的割炬噴嘴，那么最大厚度可以達到一英尺。噴嘴越小，切口越薄，切割的材料也越薄。

Plasma torches don't cut nearly as thick. The really heavy duty ones can get up to about 2-3/4″ thick, but it's not too likely that you'll get your hands on one of those. The standard industrial ones cut more so around 1″ thick material, and the 業余愛好machines tend to max out at about 1/4″ 或 3/8″。

速度

Again, plasma shines. Since it's working with such insane heat, it's a really fast cutter. Apples to apples, you'll never keep up to plasma with a cutting torch.

便攜性

火焰切割系統絕對是最便攜的，因為它可以綁在卡車上，在田地中央切割拖拉機。你可以把它帶到任何可以攜帶的地方。

The plasma cutter is (generally) a smaller unit, so it's easy to carry, but you need to be able to plug it in. The smaller 業余愛好units are usually around 20-30 pounds. If you're working in shops, it's not a problem, but if you're working on a farm, it can be annoying.

耗材

Both systems have consumables – the tips will wear out and there will be small replacement parts. This isn't a major expense, though.

不過，這是我更喜歡等離子的地方：對于氧燃料，你需要重新填充氣瓶。對于等離子，你通常只需要壓縮空氣。

從技術上講，等離子體會消耗相當多的電能

可選項

火焰噴燈使用起來非常簡單，只需選擇適合該工作的噴嘴尺寸即可。唯一值得確保的另一件事是安裝了回火防止器，這樣就不會發生爆炸。

There are a few terms worth knowing, though, when you're looking at buying a plasma torch. Here's an overview and an explanation of what they mean.

多功能

This is a loaded question – both systems have things that the other can't do.

For oxy acetylene, different torches (welding, cutting or rosebud) can let you weld, heat, hardface, cut, solder, braze, blend and gouge. For cutting, you're mainly limited to mild steel, but you can weld most metals with it.

對于等離子切割機，通?？梢哉业饺弦恍⌒驮O備，可以切割、TIG 和電弧焊接。除此之外，等離子切割機還可用于切割。

引弧

This is basically a little wire that keeps the plasma running when it's not close to the workpiece.

It's practical for applications like working with expanded metal or mesh. It will keep the machine running consistently for interrupted cutting.

If you're just wanting to get some work in the garage done, you won't really need this, and you won't see much benefit if you're only cutting sheet metal or slicing apart a car. If you're doing a lot of mesh-type work, though, it does speed up the process.

高頻

This is referring to what's used to start the plasma torch, and it's similar with a welder. Basically, a high frequency, high voltage current is powered through the torch which makes it easier to start cutting.

This makes the piercing point smaller, cleaner, and easier, and it's handy for thicker materials.

Generally speaking, you don't need this for 業余愛好machines that are used for thin sheet metal. If anything, a good practice is to pierce the material slightly off the line where you want to cut, then sweep the plasma on to the cut line

您應該選擇哪種金屬切割系統？

Here's when you should get a flame cutting torch:

1. You're working with mild steel.

2. 您使用重型設備工作。

3. 您想切割重型車軸和大塊鋼材。

4. 你喜歡每種工具都至少擁有一個。

5. 多功能性很重要——您不僅要切割，還要焊接和加熱金屬。

6. You don't need to cut sheet metal and plates quickly, but you want to have it as an option.

7. You'd like something that you can take out to the middle of a field to work with – electricity not required.

Here's when you should get a plasma cutter:

1. 您想將卡車車架切成碎片。

2. You're interested in fabrication.

3. 你喜歡每種工具都至少擁有一個。

4. 您希望能夠快速切割金屬板和板材。

5. You're an artist and make sheet metal sculptures.

6. You're working with a wide variety of materials.

7. 你主要關注的是切割，多功能性是次要的。

8. Mobility isn't too important, you'll be working primarily in shops.