Plasma is a highly ionized gas, that is composed of charged particles, and therefore a conductor of electric current. It can be obtained by passing the gas to be ionized, generally compressed air or inert gas, through an electric arc generated within a mechanical restriction.
In this way, the concentration of charged particles that are formed increases significantly, consequently the thermal effect increases and the temperature rises. The high-temperature gas tends to expand and, by passing through the choke, acquires a very high speed, a dart of concentrated energy charges is obtained, which can be used to cut metals.
A plasma cutting system can be created using a current generator with appropriate characteristics, a gas source and a torch that conveys the gas into a nozzle inside which the electric arc is generated.