Cutting
OXYFUEL CUTTING (FLAME CUTTING)
Most Economical Process
The heating flame brings the material up to its ignition temperature. Then a jet of Oxygen at least 99,5 % pure is blown onto the heated spot. The Oxygen jet oxidises the metal. The torch is moved and a narrow cutting kerf is created, removing the slag from the kerf.
Oxyfuel Straight Cutting
Oxyfuel Bevel Cutting
Characteristics:
Plate thickness: 3 mm up to 2800 mm
Typical: 10 mm up to 300 mm
Key features:
Good cut quality
Smooth, vertical cutting surface
Metallurgical perfect surfaces (oxidised)
PLASMA CUTTING
Fast, accurate and high quality
Plasma cutting was originally developed for the thermal cutting of materials which were unsuitable for flame cutting, such as high alloy steels or Aluminum. Today, the process is also used for the economical cutting of thin, low alloyed steels.
Plasma Straight Cutting
Plasma Bevel Cutting
Characteristics:
Plate thickness: 0,8 mm up to 160 mm
Typical: 3 mm up to 75 mm
Key features:
High to very high cut quality
Smooth, cutting surfaces
Metallurgical perfect surfaces for welding
Medium heat input
Excellent cutting speed
Low harding on cutting surface
LASER CUTTING
Highest quality, best accuracy
Basically when cutting with the laser the beam is focused on the material through the hole in the nozzle. This heats the material and melts it. A cutting gas, which flows co-axially through the nozzle, removes the molten material. Due to the small focus spot, laser cutting is known for its high accuracy.
Laser straight cutting
Laser Bevel Cutting
Characteristics:
Plate thickness: 1 mm up to 25 mm
Typical: 0.5 mm up to 20 mm
Key features:
Laser light can be well focused ca. 0.2 mm
Very high power density (some MW/cm2)
High to medium cut quality (roughness)
Metallurgical perfect surfaces (oxidized) or metallically blank surfaces (high pressure inert gas cutting)
Low heat input
Hardening within the area of the heat-affected-zone (HAZ) with hardening