Gas, a good burner and a steady hand are all that is needed for cutting steel. This principle has not changed since the beginning of the twentieth century.
Flame cutting is a burning process. It is not the heating flame itself that does the cutting but an oxygen jet, which burns the material during the development of heat and transports the combustion products (the metallic ashes) away from the cut. When cutting, gas purity is of great importance for cutting speed. The purer the gas, the higher the cutting speed and the better the productivity.
Before cutting can begin, the steel has to be heated to an ignition temperature by means of an oxi-fuel gas flame. The choice of fuel gas affects cut quality and the time used for preheating. When choosing a fuel gas the thickness of the material must also be considered. By using ODOROX® (odorized oxygen) you can minimize the risk of fire and explosion which is always associated with fuel gases. The smell warns of gas leaks in good time.
The most important part of cutting equipment is the cutting mouthpiece. The higher the outlet speed of the oxygen jet, the better the output of the mouthpiece. The speed in turn depends on the shape of the mouthpiece. Nowadays, mouthpieces with an expansion channel are used, giving the oxygen a high flow speed.
The construction of the cutting mouthpiece and its adjustment to various fuel gases with regard to the size of the gas channels, exact geometry, tolerances and surface finish are of crucial importance for achieving a quality cut. Cutting speed can be increased by using a curtain mouthpiece, for example. This type of mouthpiece has a special oxygen channel which protects the cutting oxygen from the impurities of the pipe, making higher cutting speeds possible.
Oxi-flame cutting can be used for cutting unalloyed and low-alloyed steel in thicknesses of up to a couple of meters. The cut quality also depends on the surface of the workpiece and can be affected by different types of shop-primer. The use of several cutters for straight cutting, phase cutting and joint preparation is an example of the versatility of the cutting process. The process is also easy to mechanize.
The use of fuel gases together with oxygen can give rise to dangerous situations if the user does not possess adequate knowledge of how gases, equipment and the necessary protective equipment are to be used.
Avoid risks by following the safety instructions for hot work.