How Plasma Cutting Benefits Fabrication Projects

Recent advances in plasma cutting technology are transforming sheet metal fabrication and steel sheet metal processing. As a metal service center, our high-definition plasma cutting delivers optimized production speeds with precision accuracy, reducing overtime costs and defects. Here’s how five notable benefits directly impact your fabrication process performance.

1. Increased Cutting Speeds

For precision sheet metal and stainless steel material processing up to 2" thick, plasma cutting achieves speeds twice as fast as oxyfuel cutting. The efficiency multiplies with thinner metal sheets - achieving cutting speeds up to 12+ times faster than oxyfuel. At our metals service center, these advanced capabilities translate directly to improved operations and measurable productivity gains.

2. Diminished Dross

The technical limitations of traditional sheet metal cutting using oxyfuel create consolidated dross (oxide slag) through chemical reactions between steel and oxygen. Our solution combines a metal laser cutter and high-definition plasma cutting technology, employing electrically charged high-temp gas, which melts metal and blows the molten metal away from the cut. This advanced process minimizes dross creation and removes post-processing requirements.

3. Raised Inside Piercing Speed

Our sheet metal cutter's precision capabilities excel in applications requiring inside piercing. While oxyfuel requires extensive preheating to 1830 degrees Fahrenheit (1000°C) for a ½" thick piece of steel sheet metal - taking over 30 seconds - our high-definition plasma technology achieves the same pierce in just two seconds, delivering measurable efficiency improvements.

4. Eliminated Plate Warping

Quality control improves through high-definition plasma technology's rapid cutting speeds, which significantly reduces heat transfer to the material. This technical advantage prevents plate warping in thin materials (18 gauge to ¼") - a common quality issue with slower cutting methods. The impact is significant when working with aluminum sheet metal and other heat-sensitive materials.

5. Expanded Versatility

Our metal service center's plasma cutting technology provides superior versatility through its electric arc process. It cuts any electrically conductive material. We process stainless steel, copper, aluminum sheet metal, and all non-ferrous materials with equal precision. Additionally, plasma can cut multiple stacked plates simultaneously—a capability unmatched by oxyfuel cutting.

Need Assistance With Your Next Project?

Whether you're sourcing where to buy sheet metal, need our in-house plasma cutting expertise, or require other first-step processing services, we deliver technically advanced, cost-effective solutions for all your metal processing needs. If you need parts created and delivered or just need help with overflow, at Boyd Metals, we will support your requirements.