While yet to find widespread use, plasma offers a safe, efficient, and cost-effective way to make a gouge Welding came into its own in the 1930s during the period leading up to WWII. Born out of a need to fuel the war effort, firms that supplied equipment rich in welded features needed to find more efficient ways of manufacturing. It was during this era that welding processes and welding engineering saw significant levels of evolution. As specifications drove engineers to design better products, more strength and durability in welded joints was required. By necessity, innovation in welding followed suit. By applying engineering principles and experimental techniques, technologists learned a great deal more about materials, interactions, and processes. Welding evolved quickly from a trade to a science. Although much more sophisticated than it had been in the past, welding still required both preparation and repair. To address this process step, the need to gouge away material was identified. Early methods consisted of mechanical means of material removal (i.e., grinding and chipping). Myron Stepath developed carbon arc gouging in the 1940s, using the welding machine itself and a carbon electrode to melt metal. Over time, this became the default method for gouging. In the last decade, plasma gouging has come into its own in terms of being a viable solution. Even so, industry wide adoption of plasma over other technologies has not taken hold on a large scale. The reason for this can be largely attributed to a lack of understanding of both how the technology works and how it can be adapted to applications-based solutions. This article aims to bridge that knowledge gap. Defining an Ideal Gouge An ideal gouge is relative to the application. What may be ideal for one situation may be unsuitable for another. In general terms, the quality of a gouge can be evaluated by determining if an operator has removed the correct amount of material in a controlled manner. Shape may or may not play a 38 WELDING JOURNAL / DECEMBER 2016 BY CLIFF DARROW Plasma Gouging Fundamentals While standard and best practices for plasma gouging are only now starting to develop, it offers a safe, cost-effective, efficient option for when there’s a need for gouging.
Welding Journal | December 2016
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