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Product category: Arc welding equipment, manual and automatic
News Release from: Murex Welding Products | Subject: Cutting and welding
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial Team on 06 October 2004

Oxy-fuel process extends beyond cutting

Compared with some other cutting and welding processes, the oxy-fuel process is remarkably easy to use.

Compared with some other cutting and welding processes, the oxy-fuel process is remarkably easy to use: this simplicity is the root of its major virtue: it is extremely versatile Indeed, the applications for the technology extend beyond cutting and welding to include gouging, heating, brazing, soldering and specialist tasks such as the removal of rivet heads

Because of the uncomplicated technology, the oxy-fuel process is also readily scalable.

For instance, miniature welding sets are available for micro-welding in the fields of jewellery-making, dentistry and electronics, while medium-sized sets can be carried in the boot of a car and used for general repair and fabrication tasks.

Even the largest sets, suitable for cutting plate 150mm thick or more, can be carried in a van.

Portability is a key benefit of the oxy-fuel processes; no electricity supply is required, unlike other welding or powered mechanical cutting and grinding processes.

Compared with the alternatives, oxy-fuel usually cuts faster as well, with only minimal fettling required afterwards.

Both cutting and welding processes use a mixture of oxygen and a fuel gas, and the fuel is usually either acetylene or propane.

Acetylene gives a higher temperature and can be used for both cutting and welding, whereas propane is only suitable for cutting.

Although propane is often perceived as a lower-cost alternative to acetylene for cutting, the higher calorific value of acetylene means that it is often more cost-effective overall (less is required to perform the same task).

However, if a user needs to switch between using acetylene and propane for cutting, the only component that needs to be changed is the nozzle.

Depending on the manufacturer's designs, much of the equipment is also the same for cutting, welding, or any other oxy-fuel processes.

The Murex Saffire, for example, uses a robust gun-drilled cast alloy handle that accepts a variety of mixers and nozzles capable of performing a number of different tasks.

Clearly the size of the attachments has to be appropriate for the thickness of the metal being processed but, having purchased a basic set of equipment, little further expenditure is necessary to broaden its capability.

A wide range of mixers, blowpipes and nozzles can be fitted to a Saffire handle to enable specialist tasks to be carried out.

For example, large rivet heads can be cut off without damaging the underlying surface, gouging nozzles can be used for back-gouging arc welded joints or removing imperfections, or heating nozzles can be used for applying heat.

Anything from automotive body panels to girders and rails can be heated, sometimes as a direct means of correcting or imparting distortion, to enable bends to be formed mechanically, or for pre-heating metals prior to welding or cutting.

If thick plates are being prepared for welding, guides can be attached to a cutting nozzle to enable the bevel angle to be set accurately.

This is especially useful when long plates are being prepared, as machining long bevels can be problematic.

From its position as market leader, Murex has seen many of its oxy-fuel products copied.

However, buyers need to be aware that while Murex designs and manufactures all of its products in accordance with current standards and Regulations, not all of the apparently similar products from elsewhere can claim the same.

Furthermore, if customers require it, Murex can supply certificates of conformance and manufacturing origin to show the standards with which its equipment complies.

Wherever possible, all of the current products from Murex are fully compatible with the Saffire equipment produced 30 or more years ago.

This means that there are many owners of oxy-fuel equipment who perhaps no longer use their equipment or who use it for only a limited range of tasks, yet who could purchase new accessories and give their oxy-fuel equipment a fresh lease of life for very little outlay.

Because of its simplicity, oxy-fuel equipment is extremely safe, reliable, requires minimal servicing, and lasts for many years.

Add to this the portability, and it can be seen why oxy-fuel processes are so widely used.

But the point that many users miss is that the breadth of tasks that can be performed with the same core equipment is vast - far wider than for any other type of cutting or welding equipment.

Further information about the Murex oxy-fuel range of equipment is available free of charge.

In addition, Murex offers a free book, 'The Safe Use of Oxy-Fuel Gas Equipment'. Request a free brochure from Murex Welding Products ...

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