Category Air Compressor & Gas Requirements

Clean, dry air—or the right process gas—is essential for quality plasma cuts. Most handheld units run on compressed air; advanced systems may use nitrogen or oxygen for faster steel cutting and argon–hydrogen blends for thick stainless and aluminum. Size your compressor by CFM at pressure, not tank size: ~4–6 CFM @ 90–120 PSI suits many 30–40A units; 6–9+ CFM fits 50–65A machines (confirm in your manual). Set regulated pressure around 60–90 PSI at the torch, maintain steady flow, and add moisture/oil filtration or an air dryer to prevent double-arcing. Built-in-compressor models simplify mobile work; match duty cycle and CFM, especially when running from a generator.