CNC Flame Cutting:
What Is Flame Cutting?
Flame cutting is a thermal cutting process that uses a gas combustion flame and a pure oxygen jet to cut metal. It is used to separate and shape steel components, and is particularly suitable for cutting ultra-thick carbon steel plates.
The process was patented by Thomas Fletcher in 1901 and has a history of more than 120 years (as of 2022). One of its earliest commercial applications was what the British called “breaking bank doors” or “opening safes.”
Core Features of Flame Cutting
Large Cutting Thickness: Flame cutting can process materials ranging from several millimeters to hundreds of millimeters in thickness (such as 300mm–500mm or even thicker), which is difficult to achieve with laser or plasma cutting.
Low Equipment Cost: Flame cutting machines require relatively low equipment investment, and operating costs are also economical.
Applicable Materials: Flame cutting is mainly suitable for carbon steel and low-alloy steel. Materials such as stainless steel, aluminum, and copper are not suitable because they cannot burn in an oxygen environment.
Slow Cutting Speed: Compared with plasma and laser cutting, flame cutting is slower, especially when cutting thin plates.
Cutting Surface Quality: The cutting surface is relatively rough and may have slag residue, usually requiring subsequent grinding or finishing processes.
| Processing Method | Applicable Thickness | Accuracy | Cutting Surface | Cost | Suitable Applications |
| Flame Cutting | 20-300mm | ★★☆☆☆ | Have oxidation layer | ★☆☆☆☆ | Thick plate rough machining, large allowance cutting |
| Plasma Cutting | 6-50mm | ★★★★☆ | Slight slag residue | ★★☆☆☆ | Medium-thick plate forming and processing |
| Laser Cutting | 0.3-80mm | ★★★★★ | Smooth surface | ★★★★☆ | Precision parts and thin sheet precision cutting |
Cutting of mining machinery bucket side plates, engineering machinery arm ear plates and equipment bases, supporting the production of large-scale heavy equipment.
Solution: Single-pass flame cutting with pre-welded bevels, eliminating rework and reducing project timeline by 50%
Requirement: 250mm thick marine steel plate with complex curved cutting.
Solution: Multi-head flame cutting simultaneously processes multiple ribs, ensuring excellent symmetry and doubling efficiency.
Yu Mei is equipped with professional flame cutting equipment and a comprehensive quality management system compliant with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certification standards, delivering stable and reliable cutting services.
We offer extensive cutting capabilities for stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and other non-ferrous metals, achieving cutting speeds 5-6 times faster than traditional oxy-fuel cutting.
Cutting thickness range: 20 mm+. Our new high-precision technology achieves cutting perpendicularity of 0-1.5°. Services encompass rough cutting for raw material processing, beveling, structural steel demolition, and subsequent welding operations, meeting diverse custom requirements.
Leveraging efficient production workflows and a specialized technical team, we deliver samples within 2 business days, respond swiftly to urgent orders, and provide tailored solutions to ensure your project progresses smoothly.
Core capabilities include:
1.Preheating Time
Automatically calculates preheating time based on different thicknesses to avoid overburning or incomplete cutting.2.Nozzle Selection
The flame cutting nozzle is the core component of a flame cutting torch. Common models include the F/K..F series, DB series, and GZ105 series, etc. The cutting thickness range covers 100–1500 mm.| Nozzle Model | Plate Thickness Range（mm) |
| GK1 Series 1-4# | < 50 |
| GK1 Series 4-5# | 50 - 100 |
| GK1 Series6-7# | > 100 |
3.Anti-deformation Technology
Our flame cutting equipment is integrated with an active thermal deformation control system. Through dual-process protection, the system effectively suppresses thermal stress concentration generated during cutting, thereby ensuring dimensional accuracy and geometric flatness of the workpiece.
Water-Cooled Cutting Platform:
The machine is equipped with a circulating water-cooled worktable. During cutting, the plate is partially submerged in water or supported by water-cooled grates. The water medium rapidly absorbs the heat generated in the cutting process, significantly reducing the heat-affected zone (HAZ). This minimizes deformation caused by uneven heating, such as warping or edge waviness, at the source.Intelligent Intermittent Cutting Process:
For materials prone to deformation, the CNC system can automatically optimize the cutting path by adopting an “intermittent cutting” or “micro-joint” process. Small connection tabs are intentionally left along the cutting contour, combined with natural cooling intervals between tool paths to effectively disperse heat accumulation. After the plate has cooled, secondary separation is performed, ensuring that complex parts maintain stable geometry throughout the cutting process.
CNC Flame Cutting Machine
The CNC Flame Cutting Machine is designed for high-precision and efficient cutting of carbon steel materials.This advanced machine utilizes flame cutting technology, making it ideal for industries that require large-scale, robust cutting of carbon steel sheets and plates.
Key Specifications:
This machine is perfect for applications in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and metalworking where precision and high-quality cuts are essential.
A: If the parts are used as welded blanks, they can generally be used directly after flame cutting. However, if higher dimensional accuracy or surface quality is required, we can provide subsequent edge milling and machining services.
A: Flame cutting is mainly suitable for carbon steel and low-alloy steel. Stainless steel is generally not cut by flame (it requires special flux, resulting in higher cost). For thick stainless steel plates, plasma or laser cutting is recommended.
A: The conventional maximum cutting thickness is 300 mm. Before the introduction of plasma cutting in the 1950s, all thicknesses were cut using flame cutting. Today, metals thinner than 9.525–12.7 mm (3/8–1/2 inch) are typically cut using plasma or laser cutting only.
A: All of them can be used, but the corresponding cutting nozzle must be replaced. Acetylene: Provides the highest flame temperature and fast ignition. It is suitable for thick plates and piercing operations, but the cost is relatively high. Propane / LPG: More economical and safer than acetylene. The kerf is slightly wider, making it suitable for thin and medium-thickness plates. The cost is lower than acetylene. Natural Gas: The lowest-cost option, commonly used for large-scale cutting in steel mills. However, it requires additives (enhancers) or dedicated cutting nozzles.
A: The process heats the metal surface using a fuel gas flame (such as acetylene or propane). Once the ignition temperature is reached, a high-pressure oxygen jet oxidizes and blows away the molten metal to form a cut.
A: Flame cutting is mainly used for ferrous metals, including:Carbon steel、Low-alloy steel.It is not suitable for stainless steel, aluminum, or non-ferrous metals.
A: Flame cutting is ideal for thick materials, typically from 300 mm or more, making it suitable for heavy-duty applications.
A: Typical accuracy ranges from ±0.5 mm to ±2.0 mm depending on thickness, equipment, and operator skill.
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