A flame cutting machine, also known as oxy-fuel cutting or oxyacetylene cutting machine, is a thermal cutting process used to sever or shape metals. This method employs a combination of oxygen and a fuel gas, such as acetylene, to generate a high-temperature flame. The intense heat produced by the flame melts the metal, and a stream of high-pressure oxygen blows away the molten material, creating a cut.
The equipment typically includes a torch with separate hoses for oxygen and the fuel gas, as well as controls for adjusting the flame intensity. Flame cutting is suitable for ferrous metals like steel and cast iron, but it is less effective on non-ferrous metals. While it may not offer the precision of some other cutting methods, flame cutting is widely used for thick metal sections in applications like shipbuilding, construction, and metal fabrication.
