ARCAIR N6000 Automatic System - Section 4: General Information; The Air Carbon-Arc Metal Removal; N6000 System Control - General

SET-UP AND SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURES
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SECTION 4:
GENERAL INFORMATION
THE AIR CARBON-ARC METAL REMOVAL PROCESS (CAC-A)
The Arcair Company developed air carbon-arc gouging and cutting in the 1940’s and early 50’s.
Since then, industry has enthusiastically adopted the process. Its many uses in metal fabrication
and casting finishing, in chemical and petroleum technology, in construction, mining, general
repair, and maintenance have become well known.
Arcair Torches and Electrodes are used throughout the world, anywhere metal must be
gouged, grooved, cut, or flushed from a surface. The air carbon-arc process is flexible, efficient
and cost effective when applied to nearly all metals: carbon steel, stainless steel and other
ferrous alloys; gray, malleable and ductile iron; aluminum; nickel and copper alloys and other
nonferrous metals.
Here is how it works:
Electrical power from a welding-power source and compressed air are fed to the air carbon-arc
torch, which holds a consumable, copper-coated, carbon-graphite electrode. An arc is struck
between the electrode and the grounded workpiece. The intense heat of the arc instantly
melts the workpiece surface. A jet of compressed air blasts the molten metal away, leaving
a clean, bright, machine-like groove or cut. Heat input to the base metal is minimal because
the air blast cools the metal and the molten puddle is removed right away. Proper use of the
equipment ensures that no carbon contamination of the metal will occur.
N6000 SYSTEM CONTROL - GENERAL
The N6000 System produces in a single pass uniform “U” or “J” grooves of various depths up to
1-1/8” (28.6 mm). Two or more passes produce grooves of greater depth. Through continuous
control of arc voltage or amperage and a constant travel speed, the groove is held within 0.025”
(0.635 mm) target depth. Arcair Jointed Jetrod Electrodes, with tapered male and female ends,
making it possible to produce grooves of unlimited length.
Control elements and circuitry for the N6000 System are housed in splash-resistant cabinets.
For quick access by the operator, all switches, dials and indicators are mounted in logical
sequence on the face of the control unit.
Groove depth and width are controlled in two ways:
• Bychangingthetravelcarriage’sforwardspeedorbychangingtheworkpiecerotational
speed, if the N6000 Torch Head is mounted on a stationary fixture.
• Bychangingtheelectrode’sdiameterandincreasingordecreasingamperage.
General Information