Plasma cutting is capable of cutting which types of metals?

• A. Ferrous and non ferrous metals
• B. Only ferrous metals
• C. Only nonferrous metals
• D. Wood and plastic

Answer: (A)

Plasma cutting works on electrically conductive metals. The torch creates a high-energy plasma arc that conducts electricity through the workpiece, rapidly heating and melting the metal while a focused gas stream blows the molten material away. Because the process depends on an electrical path, it can cut metals that conduct electricity—both ferrous metals (those containing iron, like carbon steel and stainless steel) and nonferrous metals (like aluminum, copper, and brass). Nonconductive materials such as wood or plastic cannot be cut with plasma for this reason, since there’s no electrical path to drive the arc. So plasma cutting is capable of cutting ferrous and nonferrous metals.