Genuine Hypertherm HyPerformance (HPR) shield for 130 A mechanised plasma cutting of mild steel, using oxygen as the plasma gas and air as the shield gas. The shield is the outermost front-end consumable: it directs the shield gas around the arc to improve cut quality and protects the nozzle from molten metal splashed back during piercing. Replace it when the orifice is damaged or covered in spatter to protect the nozzle and maintain edge quality.