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How Do Plasma Cutters Work – A Welding Machinery Guide?

Posted on June-06-2025

If you are a welder in your spare time, or if you do welding tasks daily in your career, you may be aware of the importance of plasma cutters in the industry. With the help of us at Arc Welding, we can support your needs by offering a range of tools ourselves. Firstly, it is important to understand what exactly they are, what they do, and how they can help welding processes. Let’s take a look!

What Are Plasma Cutters?

A plasma cutter is a tool or machine designed to cut through electrically conductive metals using a high-temperature plasma arc. It’s commonly used in metalworking, manufacturing, automotive repair, and even art. 

Plasma cutting itself is a process used to cut through those materials (like steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, and copper) using a jet of hot plasma. Plasma cutters are highly useful in the world of welding for many reasons. Here’s some to list…

How Are Plasma Cutters Useful To Welders?

Like in any work setting, the ability to have your task completed and at a faster and more efficient speed is the dream. Well, plasma cutters do exactly that. They allow welders to cut through metal at a faster rate than they would be able to in other circumstances. 

They are also great for intricacy and can really be the perfect tool for optimising the look of cutting unique shapes and sharp corners. Compared to oxy-fuel torches, plasma cutters are generally easier to control and safer for thinner materials.

Overall, they will make a welding team much more productive and make space for much larger time frames for other jobs.

 

How Should Plasma Cutters Be Handled?

1. An electric arc is created
   The plasma cutter sends an electric arc through a gas (usually compressed air, sometimes nitrogen or argon) that flows through a small nozzle at the torch tip.
2. Gas turns into plasma
   The arc superheats the gas, up to 30,000°F or more. This intense heat turns the gas into plasma. It’s like a very hot, focused flame, but electrically charged.
3. Plasma jet slices the metal
   The plasma jet melts the metal in its path. At the same time, the high-pressure gas blows the molten metal away from the cut, leaving a narrow cutting line..
4. The circuit needs a complete path
   For the arc to work, the metal you’re cutting has to be part of the electrical circuit. That’s why you’ll always see a ground clamp attached to the workpiece.

How Often Are Plasma Cutters Needed In Workplaces?

Any industry that is involved in metal fabrication can expect to need plasma cutters. Welders are one of them, but there are plenty more. Below are 5 examples of where they might be needed and why for certain workplaces. 

 

• On a construction site, crews often use plasma cutters to trim or modify steel beams and metal panels on the fly, especially when structures don’t fit exactly as planned.

 

• In automotive repair, mechanics regularly use plasma cutters to remove rusted or damaged panels, frames, or bolts without warping the surrounding metal.

 

• In manufacturing, CNC plasma cutting systems are used to mass-produce metal parts like brackets or enclosures, offering high speed and consistency.

 

• During HVAC installation, technicians use portable plasma cutters to create clean openings in sheet metal for ductwork, even in tight or awkward spots.

 

• On farms or in heavy equipment maintenance, plasma cutters are handy for quickly removing worn parts or modifying thick steel attachments on machinery.

Contact Reliable Welding Companies & Get Your Plasma Cutters Today

 

At Arc Welding, we offer many services in order to help those interested in or working in welding in the right track. Our services include equipment hire, equipment sales, and you can buy them in new or used condition. Our plasma cutters are of great quality and are definitely of the higher industry standards. 

Contact us today to get your plasma cutter with us! If you are interested in our other equipment, feel free to let us know or ask more questions regarding the make, model, and their ability, and our team will be happy to help you.

You can get in touch with us via email info@arcweldingservices.co.uk or by telephone at 0121 327 2249.