Which term describes cutting with a torch that is held and moved by a mechanical device and adjusted manually?

• A. Semiautomatic cutting
• B. Manual torch cutting
• C. Automatic cutting
• D. Plasma cutting

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is the way the torch is moved and adjusted during cutting. Semiautomatic cutting describes a setup where the torch is mounted on a mechanical device that moves the torch along the cut, giving consistent motion, while the operator still makes manual adjustments to settings such as speed, pressure, and torch height. This blend—movement handled by machinery, adjustments done by the operator—defines semiautomatic cutting.

This differs from manual torch cutting, where the operator holds and guides the torch entirely by hand with no machine-driven motion. It also differs from automatic cutting, where the machine typically controls both the torch movement and the adjustments via a program. Plasma cutting is a process type and isn’t by itself the description of who moves or adjusts the torch.