Plasma cutting uses extreme heat to cut a profile, with temperatures reaching in excess of 20,000 degrees centigrade. Compressed gas is fed through the cutting head, whilst a tungsten electrode (recessed into the head) creates a restricted electrical arc between the cutting head and the workpiece. This transforms the gas into a narrow plasma jet that can be used to make precision cuts in the workpiece by melting the material at the point of contact - what's more, the plasma jet also blasts away molten material at the same time.
Generally, plasma cutting is used to cut electrically-conductive materials up to 20mm thick. This includes carbon steel and stainless steel, as well as titanium, copper and aluminium. It may be unsuitable for thicker materials and may also result in a larger kerf width than other forms of profiling.