A technician is using a portable plasma cutter to cut 10 mm thick aluminum plate. The manufacturer's recommended parameters for this thickness are 60 amps and 3.0 metres/minute travel speed. Due to restricted access, the technician can only achieve a travel speed of 2.0 metres/minute. To maintain cut quality and minimize dross, what adjustment should the technician make?

Question: A technician is using a portable plasma cutter to cut 10 mm thick aluminum plate. The manufacturer's recommended parameters for this thickness are 60 amps and 3.0 metres/minute travel speed. Due to restricted access, the technician can only achieve a travel speed of 2.0 metres/minute. To maintain cut quality and minimize dross, what adjustment should the technician make?

Answer options:

• Increase amperage to 70 amps. ✅ Decrease amperage to 50 amps.
• Increase torch standoff distance.
• Use a smaller nozzle orifice.

Correct answer: Decrease amperage to 50 amps.

Explanation: If travel speed is reduced, it means more heat input per unit length will occur. To prevent excessive melting, wider kerf, and increased dross, the amperage should be decreased proportionately to maintain the desired heat input and cut quality. Keeping the same amperage at a slower speed would introduce too much heat.