The Various Methods Used to Cut Through Steel Today
Steel fabrication refers to a combination of different processes used to transform raw or semi-finished steel into finished forms that can be used in construction and other industries. Cutting is one of the most widely used steel fabrication processes. While the saw is the traditional standby, there are several ways to cut steel these days.
Learn about some newer methods of cutting below.
Laser Cutting
As the name says, this cutting technique involves using a high-powered laser to cut metal material to the desired shape and size. Laser cutting delivers precise, high-quality cuts and can be automated to increase cutting speed and production output. It delivers great results when used to cut complex shapes and intricate designs.
The cutting job is done by simply directing the laser cutting head at the workpiece, hence you don't have to worry about material distortion from contact with the cutting equipment. While damage due to mechanical friction isn't a concern for steel fabricators, laser cutters use heat to cut. High heat can deform some grades of steel.
Plasma Cutting
This process involves cutting through steel by using accelerated streams of hot plasma. Plasma is any gas (oxygen, inert gas, and others) that becomes electrically conductive when it is heated to the point of ionisation. The electrically conductive gas is pushed through the focused nozzle of the plasma cutter where it is exposed to an electric arc, creating a powerful plasma beam that melts the metal to produce a clean cut.
Plasma cutting works best when used to cut thick sheet metal. Quality tends to suffer when it is used on thinner sheet metal. Plus, plasma cutters may not be useful for cutting thicker or denser metals (metals forms other than sheet metal).
Waterjet Cutting
The two above-discussed steel cutting methods rely on heat to produce a cut. This makes them unsuitable for cutting heat-sensitive metal materials. This is where waterjet cutting comes in.
As the name indicates, this process involves using a high water pressure jet system to cut through the material. As surprising as it may sound, you can cut through virtually any material, including all grades of steel, if you can get the water flowing fast enough.
While it is possible to achieve smooth, clean cuts while working with waterjet cutters, the method can be quite wasteful, as it involves using a lot of water.
Each metal cutting method is unique. A metal fabrication company can assess your needs and help you determine the cutting technique that best suits your situation.