Oxy-Fuel Pipe Cutting – The Heavy-Duty Tube Laser Alternative
CNC copy-gas oxy-fuel cutting for thick-walled tubes, profiles and hollow sections – up to 50 mm wall thickness. Structural steel, fine-grain steel (S460–S1100) and wear-resistant steel (Hardox). Where tube lasers reach their limit, we still work economically.
up to 50 mm
Max. Wall Thickness
Steel · Fine-Grain Structural Steel · Hardox · High-Strength Steels
Materials
Zinser Copy-Gas Cutting Machine
Machine
2,500 × 1,200 mm
Working Format
Technology Decision
When Oxy-Fuel Pipe Cutting Is the Right Choice – Wall Thickness, Material, Batch Size
Beyond certain wall thicknesses and materials, tube-laser technology reaches its limits. Oxy-fuel flame cutting then remains the economically and technically superior solution.
- Wall thickness over 30 mm
- Tube lasers typically work up to approx. 25–30 mm. Our oxy-fuel technology cuts reliably up to 50 mm – with no loss of edge quality.
- Hardox, S460 or S690
- Wear-resistant and high-strength steels are sensitive to laser heat. Oxy-fuel flame cutting produces wider but thermally gentler heat-affected zones.
- Cost focus for small batches
- No expensive laser-programming setup. For 1–5 parts, often the markedly more economical solution – especially for cylindrical profiles with standard lengths.
Machine data
| Machine | Wall thickness | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Zinser · Copy flame-cutting machine | up to 50 mm | 2,500 × 1,200 mm |
Technical Details
Technical Capabilities
Our Zinser copy-gas cutting machine with two burners follows a template or CNC programme with precision – even for demanding pipe profiles with extreme wall thicknesses.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Materials | Structural steel (S235, S355), fine-grain structural steel, Hardox, high-strength steels (S460–S1100) |
| Profile Types | Round tube, square tube (SHS), rectangular tube (RHS), hollow sections, I-beams (IPE, IPN, IPB/HEB, IPBl/HEA, IPBv/HEM) |
| Cut Types | Bevel cuts, notchings, saddle cuts, contour cuts |
Advantages
Thick-Walled, Where Tube Lasers Give Up
- Up to 50 mm wall thickness
- well beyond the limit of any tube laser. Solid steel meets process reliability.
- Hardox and S690 no problem
- high-strength and wear-resistant steels that would overwhelm other cutting processes.
- Two burners simultaneously
- symmetric cuts and faster throughput for series production.
- Reproducible contour quality
- the Zinser machine follows the copy programme CNC-controlled, cut after cut.
- Straight into welding
- after cutting, directly to shot blasting, welding and painting – all in Lorch, Germany.
Steel and industrial-hall constructors from the Stuttgart area and the DACH region have us flame-cut thick-walled pipes and beam copes here in Lorch – for wall thicknesses beyond the reach of the tube laser.
Technology Comparison
Tube Laser Alternative – Direct Comparison
Not every task requires a tube laser. As wall thickness increases, so does the advantage of oxy-fuel cutting.
| Feature | Tube Laser | 3D Plasma Pipe Bock Maschinenbau | Oxy-Fuel Pipe Bock Maschinenbau |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max. Wall Thickness | ≤ 20 mm | up to 30 mm | up to 50 mm |
| Materials | Steel, Stainless Steel | Steel, Stainless, Wear Plate | Structural steel, fine-grain steel (S460–S1100), wear-resistant steel (Hardox) |
| 3D Cutouts & Notchings | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Bevel Cuts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cutting Speed | Very High | High | Medium |
| Cost-Effectiveness | Expensive | Economical | Low-Cost |
| Single Part / Small Batch | Limited | Yes | Yes |
Industries & Use Cases
Typical Applications
Wherever wall thickness is critical – and no tube laser in the world can keep up.
Heavy Steel Construction
Solid I-beams (IPB/HEB, IPE) and hollow sections for bridge construction, crane girders and foundation structures with extreme wall thicknesses and high weld-category requirements.
Foundation Engineering
Sheet pile carriers, bore pipe components and grab elements from high-strength steel – built for tough operating conditions.
Vehicle & Crane Engineering
Axle tubes, boom segments and slew-ring flanges from Hardox – thick-walled, precise and ready to weld.
Offshore & Plant Engineering
Pipe bends, tee branches and flange pieces for pressure vessel systems and offshore structures to standard.
From Production
Pipe Flame Cutting in Practice
Pipe and Profile Cutting
Thick-walled profiles and beams are first cut to length by sawing, then contour-cut using thermal methods for the pipe cutout.
Learn more
CNC Pipe Contour Cut
Precisely flame-cut contour in thick-walled steel pipe – weld-ready straight off the machine.
Flame Cut S355 Contract
CNC pipe flame cutting for steel construction – series and single-piece on one machine.
Learn more
Stainless steel or wear plate?
For 3D Cutouts up to 30 mm: Plasma Cutting
If your project requires stainless steel, wear plate or complex 3D geometries – and the wall thickness is under 30 mm – our CNC plasma pipe cutting is the more precise choice.
3D Plasma Pipe CuttingAn oxygen jet burns its way through heated steel. Follow the process from plate to finished blank, and learn when plasma cutting makes more sense. How does flame cutting work? →
Frequently asked questions about oxy-fuel pipe cutting
Up to what wall thickness are pipes and sections oxy-fuel cut?
Up to 50 mm wall thickness. Cutting is done on a Zinser copy-gas cutting machine that follows a template or a CNC programme with two burners; the clamping format is 2,500 × 1,200 mm.
Which profile shapes and cut types are possible in oxy-fuel pipe cutting?
Oxy-fuel pipe cutting covers round tube, square tube (SHS), rectangular tube (RHS), hollow sections and I-beams (IPE, IPN, IPB/HEB, IPBl/HEA, IPBv/HEM) – as bevel cuts, notchings, saddle cuts and contour cuts.
Are pipes made of Hardox, S460 or S690 oxy-fuel cut?
Yes. Oxy-fuel pipe cutting processes structural steel (S235/S355), fine-grain and high-strength structural steel (S460–S1100) as well as wear-resistant steel (Hardox).
How are 3D cut-outs on pipes produced?
In oxy-fuel pipe cutting, 3D cut-outs and notchings are possible only to a limited extent. Up to 30 mm wall thickness, Bock therefore cuts complex 3D geometries on the 3D plasma pipe cutting machine, including in stainless steel, fine-grain structural steel and wear-resistant steel; wall thicknesses up to 50 mm are oxy-fuel cut.
Contact
Your pipe project in expert hands.
Send us your drawings or specifications – we assess the technical possibilities and advise you personally. Prompt, direct, no obligation.
