Arc voltage evaluation system and method using average voltage values or controlling process parameters in a heat treatment system

摘要

A system and method is featured for controlling a process parameter of a thermal processing system by estimating an arc voltage between a plasma arc torch tip and a metallic workpiece and controlling the process parameter based on the estimated arc voltage. Particular embodiments include adjusting the height of a plasma torch based on the estimated arc voltage. A system and method is also featured for estimating an arc voltage in a thermal processing system in which a switch mode power supply provides an arc current to generate a plasma arc between a plasma arc torch tip and a metallic workpiece.