Plasma preferred to laser at Arcon

Ballymena-based Arcon Engineering has recently invested in a RUR3500P machine from Kerf Developments that features a Lincoln Electric Spirit 400 Amp plasma unit with Ultrasharp technology. Arcon says that the machine is powerful enough to cut through material far beyond the scope of a laser. In addition, the system incorporates a water reservoir that keeps the cutting torches cool and extends the life of consumables.
“We wanted the quality of laser without the cost; Kerf gave us the alternative with their new RUR3500P with Ultrasharp technology,” says managing director Paschal McLoughlin. “The cut quality and precision was outstanding, while the cost wasn’t anywhere near the price of a laser machine. Furthermore, the Kerf RUR3500P is more flexible as the high-definition unit is powerful enough to cut through material far beyond the scope of a laser.”
The design and technology built into the Lincoln Electric Spirit system incorporates a water reservoir that keeps the cutting torches cool. Among the benefits of this technology is that torch and consumable life are said to be extended considerably. Furthermore, the high-powered system has a lower gas consumption. The result for Arcon is a more powerful machine with significantly reduced operating and consumable costs. For a business that is sometimes running its machines 24 hours a day, the savings over the life of the machine are expected to be sizeable. In fact, trials by Kerf have shown that this technology uses up to 78% less plasma gas than competitor machines.
From a capability perspective, the 400 Amp system can cut plate up to
75 mm thick, which gives Arcon the potential to extend its workload beyond existing plate thicknesses.
For further information
www.kerfdevelopments.com