Oxy-fuel cutting systems, plasma cutting systems, laser cutting systems

Thermal Cutting

Thermal cutting (oxy-fuel cutting, plasma cutting, and laser cutting) is used in industry for the cost-effective cutting of a wide variety of sheet metal, steel sections, and tubes.

The most cost-effective choice of cutting method depends on the specific application and the thickness of the sheet metal, structural steel sections, and pipes.

As a specialized used machinery dealer, Nenok offers a variety of used cutting systems—either as standalone oxy-fuel cutting systems, plasma cutting systems, laser cutting systems, or as a combination of different thermal cutting processes in a single machine system.

Selecting the Best Cutting Technology for Different Material Thicknesses in Steel Processing

Material thickness is a decisive factor in terms of cut quality, speed, and cost. Therefore, the cutting technology should always be selected to match the predominant material thickness required.

If you primarily process thin to medium-gauge steel sheets ranging from about 2 to 30 mm, laser cutting (fiber laser) is generally the best choice. It offers high cutting speeds, narrow kerfs, and excellent precision. Modern high-power lasers, such as fiber lasers, can also cut significantly thicker materials. However, for cost-effective mass production, their strength lies primarily in the thin- to medium-gauge sheet range.

As laser power increases, the economically viable thickness range expands, but energy consumption also rises significantly. For example, a 40-kW fiber laser can process steel sheets ranging from approximately 30 mm to 40 mm with high quality. With thicker materials, however, cutting speed and cost-effectiveness decrease. Additionally, nitrogen or suitable gas mixtures are required to achieve clean cut edges.

Plasma cutting, using modern plasma sources, is particularly suitable for medium to thick sheets ranging from about 20 to 70 mm. Especially for material thicknesses between 20 and 70 mm, plasma offers high cutting performance at comparatively low operating costs. The cut gap in plasma cutting is slightly wider and the precision lower than with laser cutting; however, plasma is often the more cost-effective solution for thicker materials.

For very thick steel sheets starting at about 70 mm, oxy-fuel cutting remains a proven and cost-effective alternative. Although the cutting speed is lower, it reliably processes very thick materials.

In simple terms, the choice can be summarized as follows: fiber lasers for high speed and precision with thin to medium-thick sheets, plasma for cost-effective cutting of medium to thick sheets, and oxy-fuel for particularly thick materials

Thanks to rapid technological advancements in plasma cutting systems, laser cutting systems, and machine designs in the field of thermal cutting, ever-thicker material thicknesses are being cut with greater cutting accuracy and, at the same time, higher cutting speeds.

Tube Cutting Machines / 3D Profile Cutting Machines

Thermal cutting of round tubes can be performed either using an auxiliary unit on a gantry oxy-fuel cutting machine or by using dedicated tube cutting machines.
Pipe cutting machines are also available with either oxy-fuel cutting technology, plasma cutting technology, or laser cutting technology.