Gas　metal　arc　welding　(GMAW)　is　the　most　widely　used　welding　process,　but　its　heat　input　and　deposition　are　coupled.　Cross-arc　welding　was　recently　proposed　to　decouple　them　to　increase　productivity　while　maintaining　the　base　metal　heat　input　at　a　desired　level.　To　achieve　desirable　metal　transfer　for　a　stable　cross-arc　process,　this　paper　proposes　use　of　a　plasma　arc　(PA)　to　replace　the　gas　tungsten　arc　previously　used　to　heat　the　workpiece　and　detach　the　droplets.　A　high-speed　camera　was　used　to　analyze　the　metal　transfer　behavior.　It　was　found　that　the　PA　can　swing　between　the　two　wires　such　that　the　PA　force　is　alternately　and　automatically　applied　on　the　droplets　formed　on　the　two　wires　between　which　the　crucial　inter-wire　arc　is　established.　Three　major　parameters　significantly　determine　the　detachment　effects　of　the　PA:　peak　current　of　PA　(I-p)　pulse　duration　(t(p)),　and　plasma　gas　flow　rate　(G(p)).　Analysis　of　experimental　results　shows　that　the　larger　the　pulse　duration　(t(p)),　the　greater　the　effect　of　the　PA　force　on　the　droplet;　therefore,　the　smoother　the　metal　transfer.　Further,　with　an　increased　PA　peak　current　(I-p),　the　metal　transfer　becomes　smoother.　In　addition,　the　larger　the　plasma　gas　flow　rate,　the　greater　the　PA　force　on　the　droplet.　Experiments　also　determined　their　requirements　within　typical　ranges.