High-Speed Imaging in PAC: Multiple View and Tomographic Reconstruction of Pilot Arcing Transients

High-speed imaging of the pilot arc transient phase in plasma arc cutting has been carried out synchronizing the use of two high-speed cameras in conjunction with an optical system suitably designed for producing multiple synchronized views of the same phenomenon. Such imaging techniques have allowed a deeper understanding of the pilot arcing process, owing to the simultaneous visualization of anode and cathode attachments and through the development of tomographic reconstruction of the pilot arc.