Flame cutting - also known as gas cutting - is a versatile profiling procedure which cuts the material by raising its temperature to the point of ignition. A flame released by the cutting head is used to raise the temperature of the material and when the ignition temperature is reached, a combination of oxygen and a fuel are fed through a nozzle in the cutting head to begin the profiling process. The gas also removes any molten material from the workpiece, resulting in a continuous cut.
Flame cutting is capable of profiling material up to several feet in thickness; however, it is important to note that the cut achieved is very much reliant on the equipment and the fuel gas used. Flame cutting is also quite restrictive when it comes to the material type that can be used - generally, flame cutting is reserved for cast iron, carbon steel and low alloy steel.
Owing to the thermic nature of flame cutting, the properties of the material can become affected close to the cut and may become brittle. Therefore, in some cases, the brittle material may need to be removed as a secondary process.