A Straight Gas Cutter (often referred to informally or phonetically as a street gas cutter or straight-line gas cutting machine) is a mechanized, portable oxy-fuel torch carriage used in metal fabrication, steel construction, shipyards, and heavy engineering.
Unlike handheld torches that depend on an operator's physical stability, a straight gas cutter uses a motor-driven tractor that runs on a specialized track to deliver smooth, precise, straight cuts across thick steel plates.
1. Core Operating Principle
The machine operates by moving an oxy-fuel cutting torch across a metal workpiece at a constant, controlled speed.
- Preheating: A flame generated by mixing oxygen with a fuel gas (such as LPG, acetylene, or propane) heats the target steel to its kindling temperature (around 870°C to 900°C).
- High-Pressure Oxidation: Once the metal reaches a cherry-red heat, a central high-pressure stream of pure oxygen is triggered. The oxygen reacts with the iron, burning it into slag (iron oxide) and blowing it out through the bottom of the cut.
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