How does the Oxy-fuel cutting process work?

    A chemical reaction between steel and pure oxygen produces iron oxide during oxy-fuel cutting. It can be compared to controlled, accelerated rusting. Preheat flames are used to heat the steel's surface or edge to about 1800°F (bright red color). The heated region is subsequently exposed to a fine, high-pressure stream of pure oxygen. The preheat and oxygen stream are pushed at a consistent pace to create a continuous cut as the steel is oxidized and blown away to make a cavity.

    This method can only be used to cut metals whose oxides have a lower melting point than the base metal itself. Otherwise, the metal immediately stops oxidizing by producing a protective crust. Only low carbon steel and a few low alloys can be properly cut with the oxy-fuel method because they meet the aforementioned requirement.

    The following traits define an excellent oxy-fuel cut:

    1. Round upper corner (with minimum radius)

    2. Face-cut flat from top to bottom (no undercut)

    3. Square up the face with relation to the upper surface.

    4. Drag lines that are nearly vertical on a clean, smooth surface, and the bottom border has little to no slag (easily removed by scraping)