Plasma cutting is a cutting process capable of cutting which metals?

• A. Steel only
• B. Aluminum only
• C. Copper only
• D. It can cut steel, aluminum, and copper

Answer: (D)

Plasma cutting works by directing a high-velocity arc of ionized gas to the workpiece. That arc carries a lot of energy and melts the metal at the cut line, while the compressed gas blows the molten metal away, leaving a slit in the material. Because the process relies on electrical conductivity to transfer energy, it can cut electrically conductive metals. Steel, aluminum, and copper are all conductive, so plasma cutting is capable of cutting them. In practice, these are common materials cut with plasma, though copper can be more challenging and may require settings that account for its high thermal conductivity. Non-conductive materials can’t be cut with plasma. So the statement that it can cut steel, aluminum, and copper is accurate.