About twenty years ago I had an opportunity to use a "plasma cutter" that consisted of two carbon rods held near each other by a sort of mechanism that was operated by a pair of handles like pliers. Give the handles a squeeze and the rods came together to start an arc. Another motion turned on the air and a stream of air blowing through the arc (200 + amps, IIRC) would cut just about anything you set your mind to, metal or not. Not necessarily cleanly, but for demo work the cutter didn't care what was in front of it. Has anyone ever seen or used this device? Has a modern plasma cutter replaced this widget? If this is still around, then perhaps all one needs is a good power supply to do what a plasma cutter does now.
- posted
19 years ago