[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":190},["ShallowReactive",2],{"content:processes:plasma-cutting:en":3},{"slug":4,"category":5,"locale":6,"title":7,"subtitle":8,"metaDescription":9,"intro":10,"sections":13,"designTips":112,"applications":120,"pricingLeadTime":150,"faq":152,"cta":168,"keywords":169,"image":178,"related":182},"plasma-cutting","processes","en","CNC Plasma Cutting","Fast, economical cutting of mild steel and stainless plate from 3 mm to 50 mm across Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia","CNC plasma cutting for mild steel, stainless and aluminium plate 3 to 50 mm. Tolerances, edge quality, lead times and when to choose plasma over laser.",[11,12],"CNC plasma cutting uses an electrically ionised gas jet at around 20,000 °C to melt and blow through conductive metal. It is the most economical way to cut mild steel plate above 10 mm, handles stainless and aluminium up to 40-50 mm, and is standard for structural, agricultural and oil-and-gas fabrication in Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Expect ±0.5 to ±1.0 mm accuracy, a 1.5-4 mm kerf and a slight bevel on the cut edge.","This page covers plate thickness ranges, tolerances, edge quality, the difference between conventional and high-definition plasma, and when a fiber laser or waterjet is the better choice. It ends with what to include in your DXF so the quote is binding.",[14,20,60,97,107],{"heading":15,"paragraphs":16,"table":19,"bullets":19},"How CNC plasma cutting works",[17,18],"A plasma torch forces compressed air, oxygen or nitrogen through a narrow copper nozzle while an electric arc passes through the gas. The gas ionises into plasma, melts the metal, and the gas flow ejects the molten material from the kerf. A CNC gantry moves the torch along the DXF contour at 0.5 to 6 m\u002Fmin depending on thickness.","High-definition (HD) plasma systems constrict the arc further with a secondary shield gas, giving narrower kerf, less bevel and better hole quality than conventional air plasma. Most suppliers in the CutLinq network run HD plasma tables of 1500 x 3000 mm to 2500 x 6000 mm, often with a bevel head for weld preparation.",null,{"heading":21,"paragraphs":22,"table":24,"bullets":19},"Thickness range by material",[23],"Plasma cuts any electrically conductive metal. Mild steel gives the cleanest result because oxygen plasma adds exothermic energy. Aluminium and stainless need nitrogen or air-nitrogen mixes and produce a rougher, darker edge. The figures below are production-quality cuts; severance cuts (rough, for scrap or later machining) are possible 20-30% thicker.",{"headers":25,"rows":31},[26,27,28,29,30],"Material","Production cut","Pierce limit","Typical kerf","Notes",[32,38,44,48,54],[33,34,35,36,37],"Mild steel S235JR \u002F S355JR","3-40 mm","50 mm","1.5-3.5 mm","Best edge quality, oxygen plasma",[39,40,41,42,43],"Stainless 1.4301 (304) \u002F 1.4404 (316L)","3-30 mm","40 mm","2.0-4.0 mm","Nitrogen gas, dark oxide edge",[45,46,41,42,47],"Aluminium EN AW-5754 \u002F 6061","3-25 mm","Dross-prone below 6 mm",[49,50,51,52,53],"Galvanised DX51D+Z","3-12 mm","12 mm","1.5-3.0 mm","Zinc burn-off 5-10 mm from edge",[55,56,57,58,59],"Copper Cu-ETP \u002F brass CuZn37","3-20 mm","25 mm","2.5-4.0 mm","High conductivity, slower speeds",{"heading":61,"paragraphs":62,"table":65,"bullets":19},"Tolerances and edge quality",[63,64],"Plasma is a thermal process with a wider kerf than laser, so accuracy and edge angle depend strongly on thickness and torch condition. ISO 9013 classifies thermal cut edges by perpendicularity (u) and roughness (Rz5). HD plasma reaches ISO 9013 range 2-3 on mild steel 6-25 mm; conventional plasma sits at range 4-5.","Holes are the weak point. A hole smaller than 1.5 times plate thickness will taper and show an entry notch where the arc started. For bolt holes in 12 mm plate specify 20 mm minimum or ask for drilling after cutting.",{"headers":66,"rows":71},[67,68,69,70],"Feature","HD plasma","Conventional plasma","Fiber laser (for comparison)",[72,77,82,87,92],[73,74,75,76],"Dimensional tolerance","±0.5 mm","±1.0 mm","±0.1 to ±0.2 mm",[78,79,80,81],"Edge bevel angle","1-3°","3-6°","0-1°",[83,84,85,86],"Minimum hole diameter","1.5 x thickness","2 x thickness","0.7-1 x thickness",[88,89,90,91],"Heat-affected zone","0.5-1.5 mm","1-3 mm","0.1-0.5 mm",[93,94,95,96],"Surface roughness Rz","40-80 µm","80-160 µm","10-40 µm",{"heading":98,"paragraphs":99,"table":19,"bullets":102},"Plasma versus laser versus waterjet",[100,101],"Below 10 mm a fiber laser is faster, more accurate and usually cheaper per metre because it needs no secondary deburring. Between 10 and 25 mm the two processes overlap: laser gives a square, clean edge; plasma gives a lower price on simple shapes. Above 25 mm plasma is the only economical thermal option, and above 40 mm plasma competes with oxy-fuel or waterjet.","Waterjet has no heat-affected zone and cuts any thickness, but runs 5-10 times slower than plasma. Choose it only when hardened steel, heat-sensitive alloys or a machined-quality edge are required.",[103,104,105,106],"Choose plasma for mild steel 10-40 mm brackets, base plates, gussets, flanges and structural fittings.","Choose laser for sheet under 10 mm, tight tolerances, small holes and parts that go straight to bending.","Choose waterjet for hardened or heat-treated plate, thick aluminium and stone or composite inlays.","Plasma bevel heads cut 30-45° weld preparations in one pass, saving a grinding operation before welding.",{"heading":108,"paragraphs":109,"table":19,"bullets":19},"Regional considerations",[110,111],"Dust and sand in Gulf and Egyptian workshops shorten consumable life, so reputable suppliers change nozzles and electrodes on a piece-count schedule; ask for a fresh consumable set on precision batches. Plate stock in the region is mostly S235JR and S355JR to EN 10025 and ASTM A36 for oil-and-gas work, in 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20 and 25 mm. Thicknesses outside this list add 2-5 working days for material sourcing.","For coastal sites in Alexandria, Jeddah, Dubai or Dammam, plasma-cut mild steel should be blasted and primed or hot-dip galvanised within days, because the oxide edge attracts humidity and starts rusting fast.",[113,114,115,116,117,118,119],"Keep hole diameters at or above 1.5 x plate thickness; below that, request drilling or reaming after cutting.","Allow 1.5-4 mm kerf: draw the finished contour and let the supplier apply kerf compensation, do not offset it yourself.","Add 2-3 mm machining allowance on any edge that will be milled or turned afterwards to remove the heat-affected zone.","Keep slot widths at 4 mm minimum on 10 mm plate and 6 mm on 20 mm plate.","Leave 1 x thickness between adjacent cut lines; thinner webs warp and can be burnt through.","Mark bevel edges in the DXF with a separate layer and note the angle (30°, 37.5° or 45°) and land.","Nest parts on standard 1500 x 3000 or 2000 x 6000 mm plate sizes to avoid paying for offcuts.",{"headers":121,"rows":125},[122,123,124],"Industry","Example parts","Typical material",[126,130,134,138,142,146],[127,128,129],"Construction and steelwork","Base plates, gussets, stiffeners, splice plates","S235JR \u002F S355JR 8-30 mm",[131,132,133],"Oil, gas and energy","Flange blanks, pipe supports, skid frames","S355JR, ASTM A36, 1.4404 (316L)",[135,136,137],"Agriculture","Plough shares, disc blades, trailer chassis parts","S355JR, Hardox 400 10-16 mm",[139,140,141],"Heavy machinery","Counterweights, bucket lips, wear plates","S355JR, wear steel 12-40 mm",[143,144,145],"Solar and utilities","Pile caps, mounting brackets, earthing plates","S235JR 6-12 mm, hot-dip galvanised",[147,148,149],"Marine and ports","Bollards, deck fittings, hull brackets","S355JR, 1.4404 (316L) 10-25 mm",[151],"Plasma price is driven by three factors: plate thickness (cutting time rises steeply above 20 mm), total cut length including pierces (each pierce on 25 mm plate costs as much as roughly 100 mm of cut), and material grade (316L costs roughly 4-5 times S235JR per kilogram). Secondary operations such as drilling, bevelling and blasting add on top. Realistic lead times are 2-4 working days for standard mild steel plate in stock sizes, 4-7 working days for stainless, aluminium or non-standard thicknesses, and 7-10 working days when galvanising or painting follows.",[153,156,159,162,165],{"q":154,"a":155},"What is the thickest mild steel plate you can plasma cut?","Production-quality cuts up to 40 mm on HD plasma; severance cuts to 50 mm. Above that we route the job to oxy-fuel or waterjet.",{"q":157,"a":158},"Will the holes be round enough to bolt through?","Yes, if the hole is at least 1.5 times plate thickness and you allow a +1 mm clearance. For M20 bolts in 12 mm plate, draw 22 mm holes. For precision fits, ask for drilling after cutting.",{"q":160,"a":161},"Is the plasma edge weldable without grinding?","On mild steel, yes. The thin oxide layer and light dross are removed by a wire brush. On stainless and aluminium, grind 0.5-1 mm off the edge before TIG welding to remove nitride contamination.",{"q":163,"a":164},"Is plasma cheaper than laser?","Above 12 mm on mild steel, usually 20-40% cheaper. Below 8 mm the laser is faster and cheaper, and gives better edges.",{"q":166,"a":167},"How do I send the parts for quotation?","Upload a DXF at 1:1 scale with one closed contour per part, state the material grade, thickness and quantity, and note any bevel or drilled holes. You receive a binding quote within 12 hours, with WhatsApp support if the drawing needs clarification.","Upload your DXF or STEP file and receive a binding plasma cutting quote within 12 hours.",[170,171,172,173,174,175,176,177],"CNC plasma cutting","plasma cutting mild steel plate","plasma cutting Egypt","plasma cutting UAE","plasma cutting Saudi Arabia","plasma vs laser cutting","thick plate cutting","HD plasma cutting tolerance",{"src":179,"alt":7,"width":180,"height":181},"processes\u002Fplasma-cutting.jpg",1100,733,[183,187],{"category":184,"slug":185,"title":186},"guides","laser-vs-plasma-vs-waterjet","Laser vs Plasma vs Waterjet: Which to Choose",{"category":184,"slug":188,"title":189},"edge-quality-and-deburring","Edge Quality, Burr and Deburring",1790794196782]