For our plasma cutting homework, we cut out the OEDK logo 3 times (as shown above). We used a scrap sheet of aluminum that was 1/4″ thick. At first we had some problems getting the plasma cutter working, but then Joe realized that he forgot to ground the cutter to provide a current to generate plasma. Once the ground was clamped to the plasma cutter bed, we began cutting. The first time, the logo was too small and it fell in between the slats of the plasma cutter bed and into the nasty water. This is why not all the negative spaces are cut out in the first logo. For the second logo, we repositioned the metal and jogged the plasma cutter so the final cut logo would stretch across two slats. Unfortunately, the metal shifted sometime during the cutting process, and the K was cut incorrectly. At this point, the metal sheet was full of holes where we and other ENGI 210 teams had cut out logos, but with some careful repositioning of the metal again, we performed a test run without the plasma, and determined that there was enough metal for one last logo. We cut it out, and it was a success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For post-processing, we filed down the slag and rough edges left by the plasma cutter. Kelly also ran some sandpaper over the metal in one direction, giving it a clean and brushed surface.