Cutting 316L stainless steel plates with a plasma cutter

[Raouf Messaoudi]

Dear all,

I am trying to cut a stainless steel plate (316L) of thickness: 4 mm, using a Plasma machine.
Will the intense heating and cooling of the plasma cutting process affect the weldability of the cut edge and the chemical and mechanical properties of the base metal?

Thanks in advance!

 

Always clean scarf to bright metal if edges are to be welded.
If not welded, it depends on the environment whether it is worth the cost to you. Generally, you pay for stainless steel to look good and/or be very corrosion resistant.
Also, the scarf depends on the shielding gas and quality of the machine/human doing the cutting.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts."

 

[EdStainless]

In order to weld you need it clean. No slag and no heat tint.
Any discoloration will make getting a cound weld more difficult and reduce corrosion resistance.



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P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed