Using gases, acetylene and oxygen, to produce a controlled flame, this technology cheaply burns through carbon steel and most alloys, producing near-net shapes with relative ease. Oxyfuel is well suited for cutting material that is to be machined. Oxyfuel is slower than other cutting systems and leaves a large heat-affected zone. Cut tolerances typically are not as tight as with plasma, waterjet or laser. Laser cutting A laser beam is a high-intensity beam of light that can be tightly focused onto a spot only 0.005 inches in diameter.
Laser light is produced by passing electrical energy through a lasing medium.
In gas lasers, CO2 is mixed with helium and nitrogen to make the lasing medium. The heat exchanger cools the laser and optical components. Consumables usage is less than with plasma or oxyfuel. They can handle material of limited thickness and may have difficulty cutting reflective material. Abrasive waterjet cutting A waterjet machine pressurizes a stream of water to between 36,000 and 60,000 pounds per square inch, powerful enough to cut through many metals.