Page 6 - ProStar Product Guide

GAS EQUIPMENT

Oxy-Fuel Gas Cutting

Oxy-fuel gas cutting WHY USE OXY-FUEL GAS CUTTING?

The oxy-fuel gas cutting process severs metal by • Steel can generally be cut faster when compared
to mechanical means
utilizing the chemical reaction of oxygen with metal at
• Basic manual equipment is low cost, very portable,
elevated temperatures. The required temperature is
versatile and safe to use
provided by the combustion of a fuel gas and oxygen • Thick and thin plates can be cut rapidly with
(minimum 99.5% purity). The cutting action is supported mechanized systems
by a pure oxygen stream. • Economical method of plate edge preparation for
bevel operations
The torch used in the cutting process produces the • Can be used to easily cut rusty and/or scaled plate
preheating flame by mixing fuel gas with oxygen in • Only moderate skills needed to produce acceptable results
the correct proportions to support combustion. It also
LIMITATIONS
provides a concentrated stream of pure oxygen to the
base plate. This oxygen oxidizes the hot metal and • Dimensional tolerances are not as precise when compared
removes it from the joint area. with plasma or laser cutting
• Limited to cutting carbon and cast steels
Depending on the fuel gas selected and the particular • Hardenable and other specialty alloy materials may require
application, different cutting tips and torch mixing preheat, post-heat, or both upon completion of the cutting
process. For optimum performance, cutting tips must be
chambers are used. Among the fuel gases used are
closely matched to the base material thickness being cut.
™
acetylene, StarFlame C, propylene, propane, and
natural gas.

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