Hypertherm HT4100 Plasma Arc Cutting System Operating - Manual (Page 50)

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GLOSSARY
HT4100 Instruction Manual: Operation
plasma arc Movement of electric current in a plasma (ionized gas). An intensely hot and bright
arc which exists between the cathode (-) (electrode) and the anode (+) (either the
nozzle or the work).
pressure Force per unit area.
psi Pounds per Square Inch. Measurement of gas pressure.
quench Put in water to cool.
regulator A mechanical device to control the outlet pressure of a gas supply.
ripple Unwanted variations in current or voltage from an electrical power supply.
scfm Standard cubic feet per minute. A measurement of gas flow.
single phase An alternating current carried by only two wires. In the U.S. the "hot" carries the AC
voltage and the "neutral" is at approximately "ground" voltage. The "ground" wire
carries current only in fault conditions.
swirl ring An insulating ring that separates the electrode from the nozzle and causes the air
inside the plasma torch to swirl and aid in squeezing the arc.
transfer A pilot arc transfers to the work when the plasma arc leaves the surface of the nozzle
and attaches to the work.
U
0
Rated Open Circuit Voltage occuring at the rated input voltage (U
1
).
U
1
Rated Supply Voltage. The supply voltage for which the power source is
constructed.
U
2
Conventional load voltage. The output load voltage at which rated input current (I
1
),
rated output current (I
2
) and duty cycle (X) are measured.
VAC Volts Alternating Current.
VDC Volts Direct Current.
volt Measurement of electrical force required to move an electric current through an
electrical circuit.
watt Measurement of electrical power. The ability to heat the work equivalent to a current
of one ampere times an electrical force of one volt.
work(piece) The object to be cut.
X Duty cycle at a given U
1
, U
2
and I
2
.