Are you trying to decide between using a plasma cutter and an oxy-fuel cutting system?
If yes, then you have come to the right place.
Within the below blog, we will tell you everything there is to know about using an oxy-fuel cutting machine, including the five main benefits of oxy fuel torches.
How do oxy fuel systems work?
Oxy-fuel cutting machines work by utilising the chemical reaction of oxygen with metal at elevated temperatures. When using an oxy-fuel cutting machine, the cut quality, metal thickness, and preheating times are all affected by the type of fuel gas used.
There are four main fuel gases that you can choose from, which include acetylene, propane, propylene, and natural gas. The one that you select will be dependent on your budget, the specific cutting application, the heat output, and the oxygen consumption levels.
What are the benefits of oxy-fuel cutting?
Although many manufacturing businesses are switching to CNC plasma cutting machines, there are still many reasons why an oxy-fuel cutting machine is a superior choice. These include:
- Increased cutting speeds. Carbon steel can generally be cut significantly faster when compared to other mechanical means.
- Lower costs. An oxy-fuel cutting machine is typically cheaper to buy than a plasma cutting machine.
- Portability. These types of cutting systems are extremely portable, so you can move them around your work area with ease. In fact, most weigh only around 35 pounds.
- Enhanced versatility. An oxy-fuel torch can not only cut but also weld, solder, heat, and gouge.
- Ideal for thicker materials. An average oxy-fuel cutting machine can cut steel that is between 6-12 inches thick. However, you can find more powerful fuel cutting machines that can cut through steel more than 20 inches thick.
Are there any drawbacks to oxy-fuel cutting?
As oxy-fuel cutting is predominantly used to cut thicker metals, the cutting process can be longer than when using a plasma cutter.
If you are looking to cut thinner materials, then an oxy-fuel torch may not be the cutting system for you as they are more effective at cutting thicker metals.
Is an oxy-fuel cutting machine the right choice for me?
Before you invest in oxy-fuel cutting machines, there are several factors that you need to consider.
Firstly, oxy-fuel torches are typically used to cut ferrous metals or those that contain iron, such as carbon steel. Therefore, if you are looking to mainly cut aluminium, cast iron, or stainless steel, these might not be the best choice for you.
As mentioned earlier, they also require the purchase of fuel gas, so you need to factor this into your overall costs. You don’t want to find yourself going over budget due to forgetting these additional costs.
If you need to regularly cut thicker ferrous metals, then an oxy-fuel cutting machine is the perfect piece of equipment for you. However, if you want precision cutting of metals such as stainless steel or aluminium, then a plasma cutter is a better choice.
