Patent ID: 8395074

Claim:
A plasma arc system for use with a workpiece, the system comprising: a single-gas, gas-cooled plasma arc torch; and a torch control unit including: a housing; a user input device on the housing for receiving an indication of a desired cutting or marking function, the cutting function including cutting completely through the workpiece and the marking function including surface marking the workpiece, the user input device also providing a responsive signal based on the indication; a single gas supply to the housing for cutting or marking; a single gas supply from the housing to the torch for cutting or marking; current control means within the housing for controlling current output to the torch for either cutting or marking; gas control means within the housing for controlling gas output to the torch for either cutting or marking; and a controller within the housing for receiving the signal from the user input device indicating the desired cutting or marking function, and for sending a responsive signal to the current control means and to the gas control means depending on the desired cutting or marking function so that the torch respectively either cuts completely through the workpiece or surface marks the workpiece.