Hypertherm Plasma Cutting

Hypertherm Plasma Cutting is an American corporation which designs and manufactures metal cutting systems for use in a variety of industries such as shipbuilding, manufacturing, and automotive repair. It makes handheld and mechanized plasma cutters and consumables, as well as CNC (Computer Numerical Control) motion and height controls. The company employs more than 1,000 people: approximately 900 people at its main headquarters in New Hampshire, and another 100 at its regional offices in Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

History of Hypertherm and plasma cutting

Plasma was accidentally discovered in the 1950s by scientists working for the U.S. defense industry. The scientists learned that increasing the gas flow and reducing the opening in the gas nozzle used in TIG welding would result in the formation of a plasma jet. However the technique wasn’t widely used because a phenomenon called double arcing (in which one arc forms between the plasma electrode and nozzle and a second arc forms between the electrode and nozzle), damaged both the electrode and cutting nozzle. Eight years later, in an attempt to control double arcing, a dual flow technique was introduced. The technique involved adding a second gas shield around the plasma nozzle. Although lessened, double arcing was still a problem. It wasn't until 1968, when Dick Couch, who went on to found Hypertherm, invented Water Injection Cutting, a process that involved radially injecting water into the nozzle. The end result was a faster and better cut, as well as less dross and the virtual elimination of double arcing. It is this invention, that made plasma cutting a viable option for companies needing to cut metal. The initial discovery of Water Injection Cutting was followed four years later by Hypertherm's introduction of a water muffler and water table that lessened the noise, smoke, and light that traditionally occurred during the cutting process.

First commercial plasma

Hypertherm’s very first plasma cutter, the PAC400, used techniques patented by the company. It brought an alternative way to cut through metal. The PAC400 was followed by a number of other inventions including the invention in 1990 of a plasma system that could successfully cut up to 4 ½ inches of metal under 15 feet of water. This breakthrough was embraced by the atomic power industry as it helped in the dismantling of old power plants.

Competitors

*Kjellberg Finsterwalde

ources

*http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=1061

*
*http://www.designnews.com/article/CA6343245.html
*http://www.nhhtc.org/news_detail.cfm?id=130
*http://www.sppusa.com/reference/white_paper/wp_pc.pdf

External links

* [http://www.hypertherm.com/ Hypertherm official website]
* [http://www.hypertherm40.com/ Site chronicling the history of Hypertherm]