Flame cutting has been a popular technique in many industrial processes for years. This method is used to make precise cuts on steel and other metals. If you’ve ever wondered what the flame cutting process is like, below is a brief guide that highlights the origins of this technique, as well as its uses.

A Guide to Flame Cutting

The Origins & Basics of Flame Cutting 

Flame cutting has been known by many names throughout the decades. Since its discovery in 1901, it’s been called oxy-acetylene cutting, oxy-fuel gas cutting, oxygen burning, and steel burning. As a thermo-chemical metal fabrication technique, flame cutting is used for its affordability and efficiency. It requires an intense flame and a pure source of oxygen. Even reducing the oxygen quality by a tenth of a percent can reduce cutting speed by 10%.

How the Process Works

To start, oxygen is mixed with a fuel source. Options include acetylene, propane, methane, and propylene. Metal is preheated to its ignition temperature. While this temperature must be hot enough to cut the metal, it must be below its melting point. Each metal will have its own melting point. Some metals, like aluminum, have an oxide point (in the 5,000 F range) higher than their melting point (1,200 to 1,300 F). Therefore, they cannot be cut with this process. Once the area is heated, pure oxygen is shot out to act as a cutting tool. 

Factors That Influence the Process

Whether you’re cutting steel plates or iron beams, several factors can impact the process. The cutting tip and oxygen pressure both impact oxygen purity, which in turn affects cutting speed and power. The preheat level is also important, as it depends on both the type of fuel used and the ratio of fuel to oxygen. 

If you’re working with several metals, including steel, and you want to learn more about cutting processes, turn to the professionals at Magna Steel Sales. This one-stop shop in Westport, CT, provides a range of metal products including beams, stainless steel, grafting, and rebar, as well as welding and metal cutting services, including flame cutting. To browse their products, visit them online and call (203) 888-0300 to discuss your project.