Plasma Torch Electrode Materials and Related Systems and Methods
AssigneeHypertherm, Inc.
InventorsMarkus Wittmann, John Peters, E. Michael Shipulski
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Abstract
In some aspects, multi-metallic emissive inserts shaped to be disposed within an electrode for a plasma arc torch electrode can include an exposed emitter surface at a distal end of the emissive insert to emit a plasma arc from the electrode, wherein the emissive insert comprises a first emissive material and about 8 weight percent to about 50 weight percent yttrium.
Claims32
An electrode for a plasma arc torch, the electrode comprising:
- a body formed of an electrically conductive material, the body having a first end and a second end;
- and
- an emissive portion comprising a multi-metallic insert disposed within the first end, the multi-metallic insert including at least two non-oxidized metallic materials, one of the non-oxidized metallic materials being about 5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of metallic yttrium.
A plasma arc torch for a plasma cutting system, the plasma arc torch comprising:
- a torch body;
- a nozzle disposed within the torch body;
- and
- an electrode mounted relative to the nozzle in the torch body to define a plasma chamber, the electrode including:
- an electrode body formed of a thermal conductivity material, the electrode body having a first end and a second end defining a longitudinal axis;
- and
- an emissive portion comprising a multi-metallic insert disposed within the first end, the multi-metallic insert including at least two non-oxidized metallic materials, one of the non-oxidized metallic materials being about 5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent of metallic yttrium.
The plasma arc torch of claim 16 wherein the multi-metallic insert includes an emissive surface with a surface area exposed to plasma gas, the emissive surface area having a size that is selected in coordination with an operating current carried by the electrode so that a current density during cutting is between about 35,000 amperes/inch2 to about 37,000 amperes/inch2.
A multi-metallic emissive insert shaped to be disposed within a plasma arc torch electrode, the emissive insert comprising:
- an exposed emitter surface at a distal end of the emissive insert to emit a plasma arc from the electrode,
- wherein the emissive insert comprises a first emissive material and about 5 weight percent yttrium to about 50 weight percent yttrium.
A method comprising:
- forming a multi-metallic region of an emitter insert for a plasma arc torch electrode, the multi-metallic region comprising a first emissive material and about 5 weight percent to about 50 weight percent yttrium metal;
- and
- disposing the emitter insert in a recess formed at an end of the plasma arc torch electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.