Process in which an arc is forced through a small nozzle with air, nitrogen, oxygen or argon-hydrogen, producing a jet hot and fast enough to melt and expel metal. It cuts any conductive metal, including stainless and aluminum, faster than oxyfuel on thin and medium plate and with a narrower heat-affected zone. Hand torches handle field work, while CNC tables with high-definition torches cut close-tolerance parts.
Run the stainless brackets on the plasma arc cutting table, the oxy torch won't touch them.
Also heard as
- plasma cutting
- PAC
- plasma
Related terms
Oxyfuel cutting
Cutting steel by heating it to ignition with a flame, then burning it away with a jet of oxygen.
Kerf
The slot a torch, plasma arc, laser or saw leaves behind, and the width of metal it removes.
Burner
Shop name for the tradesperson who does torch cutting, or for the cutting torch itself.
Arc gouging
Removing metal with a carbon electrode arc and a jet of compressed air, used to back gouge and dig out defects.