Cutting Processes

Castle’s advanced cutting processes include:

• Abrasive Water-Jet

  A cutting method that uses a jet of pressurized water containing abrasive powder for cutting steel and other dense materials.

• Aluminum Contour Saw

  Sawing to a layout line of regular radius or irregular contour. The term is often used to describe any band machining operation more complicated than a simple straight line cut.

• Beveling

  Refers to pipe; the end preparation for field welding of the joint.

• Cut-to-Length

  The process to uncoil sections of flat-rolled steel and cut them into a desired length. Product that is cut to length is normally shipped flat-stacked.

• Deburring

  A method whereby the raw slit edge of metal is removed by rolling or filing.

• Flame-Cutting

  Oxygen cutting in which the appropriate part of the material to be cut is raised to ignition temperature by an oxy-fuel gas flame.

• High-Definition Plasma

  A cost-effective method and alternative cutting method to laser and plasma cutting, high definition plasma cutting process is garnered for its precision and accuracy, excellent edge quality, minimum and consistent bevel angles, and absence of dross.

• Laser-Cutting

  A cutting process in which a laser-beam heats and severs a work piece; it is optimal for thin gauge material where high precision is required. Laser cutting is similar to plasma cutting except that the cuts are more intricate, accurate, and the heat-affected area is smaller.

• Lathe Cutting

  A process that cuts tubular and bar products to close tolerances on turning machines and can impart chamfers and deburring to both ends of the parts.

• Plasma

  Plasma cutting is a process that uses a high velocity jet of ionized gas that is delivered from a constricting orifice. The high velocity ionized gas, that is, the plasma, conducts electricity from the torch of the plasma cutter to the work piece. The plasma heats the work piece, melting the material. The high velocity stream of ionized gas mechanically blows the molten metal away, severing the material. Plasma cutting is ideal for cutting steel, and non-ferrous material less than 1 inch thick.

• Saw Cutting

  The metalworking process used to cut starting ingot or billet stock to length in preparation for the forging process and also to trim forged parts to size.

• Shearing

  A type of cutting operation in which the metal object is cut by means of a moving blade and fixed edge or by a pair of moving blades that may be either flat or curved.