Flame Cutting Services
With in-house oxy-fuel cutting machinery, we process steel to the required shape and finish.
Flame cutting is a cost-effective method for cutting thick carbon and low alloy steels into any profile.
Also called oxy-fuel cutting, flame cutting uses narrow jets of pure oxygen & gas fuel burning at high heat to melt and oxidise a gap through the metal. The tool is manipulated by CNC machinery to create highly accurate cuts.
Our 4x CNC flame cutting machines can achieve accuracy to a tolerance between +/-1.0mm to +/-6.0mm, depending on material thickness.
Flame cutting can leave a heat-affected zone at the cutting site, which may
require additional machining such as deburring to maintain quality.
All flame-cut blanks undergo a stringent quality control process before delivery. Where required, we can provide ultrasonic testing to detect internal issues after cutting.
CNC cutting allows for reliable job planning and repeatability. Batches of flame-cut profiles are usually achieved within 2-3 days from order, with minimal waste.
Simple jobs can be cut while you wait or on a next-day service if needed.
Clients can rely on our advice and support to determine the right cutting method for their requirements. Flame cutting is best for carbon or low alloy steels between 3mm to 450mm thick.
Flame Cutting Capacity
We have 3 multi-head flame-cutting machines and 1 single-head machine running daily, providing great capacity and allowing our quick turnaround times. Tolerances depend on the thickness, shape and size of the workpiece.
Our clients choose VSN because we are trusted steel processors across the UK. Our experience over the past 60 years informs our advice and support, helping clients to choose the best processes and materials for the job.
After cutting, we test every flame-cut profile for material issues, such as weaknesses that risk cracking. We never deliver poor-quality work, and always provide the quickest possible turnaround on orders.
| Flame Cutting Capacities | Portal Frame 4-Head | Portal Frame 3-Head | Cantilever Single Head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum Cutting Length | 14500mm | 7500mm | 7500mm |
| Maximum Cutting Width | 3800mm | 3650mm | 3300mm |
| Maximum Plate Thickness | 250mm | 600mm | 650mm |
Flame Cutting Services FAQs
What is flame cutting?
Flame cutting uses narrow jets of pure oxygen & gas (acetylene, propane or natural gas) to cut through metal.
The gas flame burns at a high temperature to melt the metal which is then oxidised by the oxygen jet, creating space along the cutting path.
Flame Cutting is also called Oxy-fuel cutting or Oxy-acetylene cutting.
What benefits does flame cutting offer?
In our CNC Flame-Cutting service, the cutting arm is controlled by a computer to create high-precision profiles with perfect accuracy.
Perfect for high-production runs on short lead times, CNC flame-cutting services allow quick and efficient machining with reliable job planning to reduce material waste.
Flame-cut blanks are cost-effective for steel plate because of efficient fuel use.
What is the maximum thickness of materials that can be flame cut?
650mm is the maximum thickness we can flame-cut with a single pass. We can remove excess material with Lumsden Grinding.
What tolerances can you achieve with flame cutting?
Our flame-cutting machinery is accurate to between +/-1.0mm to +/-6.0mm, depending on the thickness and length of the workpiece.
For what industries do you provide flame-cutting services?
Our flame-cutting services create profiles for steel frame buildings, heavy industry, yellow goods, rail network construction, aerospace, automotive, oil and gas construction and storage, and general engineering industries.
How is flame-cutting different from plasma arc cutting?
How is flame-cutting different from plasma arc cutting?
These processes are very different: while flame cutting uses fuel gas to create heat, plasma cutting uses an electrical arc. The electricity ionizes and superheats the compressed gas into plasma, which cuts a path through the steel workpiece. Plasma cutting is slightly faster, but can not be used to cut thicker steels.
Flame cutting is perfect for carbon steel and low alloy steels, while plasma cutting can process stainless steel and other conductive metals.
What are the delivery times for your flame-cutting services?
We deliver nationwide from our facility in Birmingham, with our own fleet of vehicles. Our delivery times for flame-cut blanks are typically 3-4 days from order placement, depending on material availability and other processes required.
