Plasma cutting
How does plasma cutting work?
Quick answer
Plasma cutting (plasma arc cutting): a superheated, constricted arc blows molten metal through the cut — clean cuts on any conductive metal. It's a cutting process — the fastest clean way to slice conductive metal.
What's happening at the arc
In Plasma cutting (plasma arc cutting), an electric arc (or, for laser, a focused beam) delivers intense localized heat that melts the base metal and, where used, the filler. The shielding gas — compressed air (most units) — keeps air off the pool; without it the weld goes porous and weak.
Where it fits in Australian workshops
A 40–60 A air-plasma on a 10A circuit handles 10 mm steel cuts slowly, 6 mm happily in Australia; consumables (tips, electrodes, swirl rings) are the real running cost.
Settings by thickness
| Output | Clean cut (steel) | Severance |
|---|---|---|
| 40 A | ~10 mm | 14 mm |
| 60 A | ~16 mm | 22 mm |
| 80 A | ~22 mm | 30 mm |
| 100 A+ | ~28 mm+ | 38 mm+ |
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