Process for cutting welded pipe/cross headers in half?
Process for cutting welded pipe/cross headers in half?
(OP)
I am making headers for a ‘pressure vessel’ out of pipe and crosses. It will be 4” sch. 40 steel pipe with two (2) 4” butt weld crosses. I would like to have these cut in half after being welded up and be able to use BOTH halfs. It will need to have a small kerf as I can’t have much material lost during the process. Maybe around 1/8” max?
This would all be done as opposed to using just butt weld tees, cutting in half and then scrapping half the pipe and tee. This would also cut down on the number of welds (which will need to be x-rayed also).
My question is what processes of cutting would work for these headers? EDM, laser, plasma, saw, torch? I’m not real familiar with what’s available and just would like some input and what would be the most suitable for this application.
Thanks for any input
This would all be done as opposed to using just butt weld tees, cutting in half and then scrapping half the pipe and tee. This would also cut down on the number of welds (which will need to be x-rayed also).
My question is what processes of cutting would work for these headers? EDM, laser, plasma, saw, torch? I’m not real familiar with what’s available and just would like some input and what would be the most suitable for this application.
Thanks for any input





RE: Process for cutting welded pipe/cross headers in half?
The machinery is expensive, so a lot of it goes to companies that do nothing else and can keep it busy enough to pay off the investment. The process is very, very fast.
I'm not sure how many have been sold, but multi-axis laser cutters exist, capable of cutting fancy holes, bevels and conjugate keys in round and square tube. The Tube and Pipe Journal, house rag of tpa.org, would be a good place to start looking for them.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Process for cutting welded pipe/cross headers in half?
You refer to 12ga. but is this a resonable process for 4" Sch. 40 pipe and crosses? Also, there would be a good quant. of these, not just 1 or 2 of them. At least 70 and up to 150, just for now.
Thanks
RE: Process for cutting welded pipe/cross headers in half?
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Process for cutting welded pipe/cross headers in half?
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
WWW.amlinereast.com
RE: Process for cutting welded pipe/cross headers in half?
Nick