Slag Removal From Oxyfuel, Flame, & Plasma Cut Parts & Heavy Plates

Heavy slag and dross is created during thermal cutting processes such as plasma cutting, flame cutting, and oxyfuel cutting. Slag refers to the residue or waste material that is being ejected from the kerf during cutting. The thicker the material, like heavy plate or thick parts for example, the more energy is required to remove the slag. If this slag can be knocked off via a lateral force, we speak of deslagging. Removing slag is an important step in ensuring quality, safety and durability for your plasma and flame cut parts.

The transition from burr to slag is fluid. However, as different tools are used in edge processing, we also distinguish between deburring (grinding) and slag removal (chipping off) processes. The deslagging solution can also be place in-line with edge rounding machines for complete processing.

Slag usually forms on heavy plate and metal parts which are cut with plasma or flame (oxyfuel).  There are two reasons why grinding off slag does not make sense. First, slag cannot be completely removed, because only up to a certain level can be ground off while the rest is pressed into the material. Second, there is an enormous amount of abrasive being used when grinding slag due to the slow grinding process which results in high abrasive costs. The preferred method for slag removal is to literally chip it off the metal parts with carbide pins (slag hammers). These slag hammers hit the side of the slag at a high speed and thus breaking them off the edge. This robust procedure uses discs equipped with carbide pins (slag hammers) that rotate and oscillate across the metal parts. The parts are securely held down by rollers to prevent any unwanted movement while the pins remove the slag.