Fusion edges and reducing

Once the steel has been cut to size, the customer can further process and weld the materials. For this reason, cut steel is often finished with a fusion edge to ensure a good weld. This is not much more than an angled edge that is applied to a flat plate. Such angled fusion edges increase the welding surface so that the welding material can adhere along a greater surface area. This improves the quality of the root fusion, allowing the materials to become a single entity. The most important reason for adding fusion edges is, after all, to reinforce the welded structure. In addition it reduces the cost price of welding, as less welding material is needed. 

In De Boer Snijbedrijf's edge working department, fusion edges are automatically applied in the plasma cutting process. The finishing of fusion edges by plasma cutting has many benefits: the cutting of the contour and the application of the fusion edge can be done in a single process. This is much quicker and more cost effective than first cutting the steel to size and then, in a second process, finishing the piece with the fusion edges.

Work pieces that cannot be processed in the plasma cutting machine, for instance because they are too thick, or because the fusion edge is at too great an angle can be finished with a fusion edge in the oxy-fuel cutting process. Whichever process is used, the result is a sleek, clean fusion edge.

Making fusion edges

There are various fusion edge angles that can be made. The most frequent are the X-seam, Y-seam, V-seam and the K-seam. They can be applied using a variety of production techniques.

Reducing

De Boer Snijbedrijf is specialised in the cutting of steel and can also reduce materials. Reducing is a specialist term for a cutting process in which steel is processed so that it tapers from thick to thin. In contrast to fusion edges, this process is often used where pieces are not to be fully welded, often with a much more acute angle. Reducing is applied in shipbuilding, for instance in a vessel's hull. The bumper is made of thick steel plate, which tapers steadily down the hull.