Applications & Solutions
Machine Selection & Application Guide
Matching material parameters, thickness ranges, and part geometries to the correct thermal or laser cutting process ensures structural integrity and production efficiency. All machine configurations comply with international industrial standards, including CE safety directives, ISO manufacturing protocols, and structural welding guidelines such as AWS/ASME requirements.
Process Selection Matrix
|
Material |
Thickness Range |
Preferred Technology |
Primary Constraint |
|
Carbon Steel |
Up to 200 mm |
Flame / Plasma / Fiber Laser |
Thermal distortion on thin gauges; pierce delay on heavy plates |
|
Stainless Steel |
Up to 40 mm |
Fiber Laser / High-Definition Plasma |
Oxidation control and dross formation |
|
Aluminum |
Up to 50 mm |
Fiber Laser / Plasma |
High reflectivity requiring high fiber laser power |
|
Structural Shapes |
Beams up to 1000 mm |
Profile / Coping Machines |
Clearance for web/flange cutting and beveling |
Technology Breakdown
Fiber Laser Cutting
• Application Range: Sheet metal, thin-to-medium plates (under 25 mm), non-ferrous metals.
• Operational Parameter: Uses high-density beam energy focused via fiber optics. Delivers narrow kerf widths (under 0.1 mm), tight dimensional tolerances (plus or minus 0.05 mm), and minimal heat-affected zones (HAZ).
• Selection Criteria: Select when part geometry requires small hole-to-diameter ratios (1:1), intricate profiling, or secondary cleanup elimination.
CNC Plasma Cutting
• Application Range: Carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum plates (3 mm to 80 mm).
• Operational Parameter: Uses compressed ionized gas to melt and eject metal from the kerf. Modern high-definition systems achieve bevel angles under 3 degrees and dross-free cuts on mild steel up to 25 mm.
• Selection Criteria: Select for high cutting speeds and lower capital/operating costs on medium-to-thick plates where laser cutting becomes economically unviable.
CNC Flame (Oxy-Fuel) Cutting
• Application Range: Heavy carbon steel plates (6 mm to 200 mm plus).
• Operational Parameter: Uses an exothermic chemical reaction of oxygen with heated iron. Multiple torches can operate simultaneously on gantry tables.
• Selection Criteria: Select exclusively for heavy carbon steel sections where cutting speed is secondary to material thickness capacity.
Industry-Specific Applications
• Structural Steel & Shipbuilding: Heavy fabricators and shipyards utilize gantry systems spanning up to 12 meters for large shipbuilding steel plate cutting, combined with multi-axis structural steel coping machines for automated layout, profile cutting, and bolt-hole drilling.
• Pipe and Tube Processing: Requires rotary chuck axes coordinated with linear motion to handle round, square, or rectangular hollow sections for length cutting, miter joints, saddle cuts, and branch connections.
Request for Quotation Parameters
Provide the following data to determine drive power, bed dimensions, and torch configuration:
Material Type and Grade: (e.g., Q235, A36, 304 Stainless, Aluminum 6061)
Thickness Range: Minimum and maximum gauge or plate thickness
Workpiece Dimensions: Maximum sheet length/width or pipe diameter/wall thickness
Required Operations: Straight cutting, beveling, hole drilling, tapping, or marking
Production Volume & Workflow: Single-shift batch sizes, required cycle time, CAD/2D/3D drawing requirements, and any specific regional compliance standards (e.g., CE, ISO) needed for automated processing