ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Plasma arc welding

So kiddo, do you remember how you like to use your crayon and paper to make a drawing? Well, a plasma welding machine is kind of like a magical crayon that can join two pieces of metal together really strong.

Plasma welding works by using a super hot gas called plasma to melt the metal. Imagine that you have a candle and you light it up. The flame that you see is hot enough to melt the wax just like the plasma gas can melt metal. But, don't worry! Plasma welding is safe because the welding machine controls the temperature and distance of the plasma gas.

Now, let's talk about how the welding machine works. The machine is made up of a power source, two metal pieces and a plasma torch. The power source sends electricity to the plasma torch, where the gas is turned into super-hot plasma that can melt the metal. Then, the plasma torch moves back and forth along the metal pieces to join them together. Think of it like a magic wand that heats up the metal to make it stick together.

Plasma welding is really cool because it can make strong and precise welds without touching the metal. It also creates less smoke, which makes it better for the environment. So, next time you see metal pieces welded together, remember that it was probably done with a plasma welding machine using super-hot gas called plasma!