Plasma cutting is a method developed in the 1950s for the working of metals that could not be cut by traditional gas cutting. Such materials include stainless steel, aluminum and copper.
Subsequently the method has also been used for cutting and precision-cutting unalloyed and low-alloyed steel.
Plasma is a gas that is wholly or partly ionized, which means that it consists of positive ions and negative electrons. It can thereby conduct electric current. Plasma is very energy-rich. Plasma smelts the material locally and the smelted material is removed from the cut by means of the gas jet.
Plasma cutting is a smelt-cutting method, where the energy of the hot plasma arc is used for blowing away smelt material. Plasma cutting differs from gas cutting in that it does not involve any oxidation. The exception is cutting with oxidizing gas, e.g. oxygen.
Avoid risks by following the safety instructions for hot work.