The plasma arc cut results in a ______ that has a 4 to 6 degree bevel on the torch side of the cut.

• A. Torch standoff
• B. Drag
• C. Kerf
• D. Regulator

Answer: (C)

In plasma cutting, the term kerf describes the slot left by the cut—the width of material removed. The torch is usually held at a slight angle as the arc concentrates heat and melts the metal, which causes the edge of the cut to tilt. That tilt produces a bevel on the torch side of the cut, typically around 4 to 6 degrees. So the cut’s geometry—the kerf with a small bevel on the torch side—is what’s being described. Torch standoff is just the distance from the nozzle to the work and affects quality, while regulator and drag refer to gas supply or other non-geometry aspects, not the bevel of the cut.