Flame Cutting Practices for Economy and Performance

Flame cutting costs are reviewed and are shown to have a large labour content capable of reduction by good housekeeping and modern practices. Application of optical tracing and numerical control offer considerable potential for improvements plus cost savings. Data processing systems have been developed for a variety of application of NC. Plasma and laser cutting have special applications. Australian research has rationalised code requirements for removal of flame cut edges. Finally more appropriate surface roughness values are tabled and replicas of cut surfaces are described.