What Makes a Great Pipe Cutting Machine?

In the world of pipe cutting GSI Machinery has a few different machine types to suit different applications and needs. For example, in the field we offer portable lathe-style machine to cut and bevel pipe in place with no sparks or flames. These machines are specifically useful for industrial plant work where often times hot work permits are not allowed and sparks pose a safety hazard. But for this article we're going to be talking about cutting and weld-prepping pipe in the shop with an automated pipe profiling machine using plasma or oxy fuel. There are just a few manufacturers of true pipe profiling equipment on the market today so we wanted to write this short article explaining what makes a great pipe cutting machine and what you should be looking for when evaluating the different manufacturers.

How Does the Machine Handle Mis-Shappen Pipe?

We all know that no pipe is perfectly round and it is not perfectly straight (especially with some of the pipe that is sourced globally). So your pipe profiling machine needs to be able to compensate for pipe's out-of-roundness and bow in order to make accurate, even cuts and bevels (not to mention when cutting fish-mouths or beveled holes). So a question to ask is "how does this machine compensate for out of roundness and bow?"

Our pipe profiling equipment from HGG uses independently raising rollers (bogies) to control where the rollers are touching the pipe so that this machine can lift the pipe only at the cutting trolley and this offsets the bowing of the pipe keeping the trolley on level while cutting. Another feature the HGG machines have to account for out of round pipe is a floating chuck which can account for pipe creep as the bowed shaped pipe wants to creep forward when rotated; this chuck can move with it as can the cutting trolley. The floating chuck works in concert with the cutting trolley for every bit that the chuck moves, so does the cutting trolley; this ensures the cuts remain at the correct length despite any lateral pipe movement. Lastly, HGG implements a pantographic cutting head on a rolling trolley to allow it to follow the out of round shape of the pipe as it cuts. This is super important because it ensures that the torch will keep a consistent arc length all the way through the cut. This ensures that you are beveling evening and also keeps our cuts very clean by maintaining that consistent arc length throughout the cut. The more consistent the arc length, the cleaner the cuts will be which means less (if any) cleanup work with a grinder after the cut is done. Less grinding equates to more production and a faster cutting - fitting process.

Who Makes and Software and What Support Will I get Longterm?

Software is key because it determines how accurately the machine can cut and how fast you are able to plan out your cuts. You want to be sure that the manufacturer of the machine you are buying makes their own software in-house. Not that you should never use a 3rd party software like Pypeserver; there is good software out there that our customers use successfully. The problem arises when your OEM does not make any of their own software or the base software is just not very good. If you are relying solely on a 3rd party software company you may be dead in the water if you have a software glitch or malfunction, sometimes waiting weeks for support. If your OEM makes their own software like HGG you can run the base software and keep material moving through your shop while you wait on the 3rd party software support. Another thing to consider with software is cost of ownership. Does the 3rd party software require a subscription and what will that subscription cost 10 years from now? HGG employs their own full time software engineers and they do not require a subscription to run their software. You buy it and you own it for life with full factory support for the life of the machine. Your software is not subject to increasing subscription fees, add-ons or obsolescence.

Build Quality

Lastly, it's so simple but so true. Build quality matters. Where are the parts and materials sourced from for the building of this machine? Machining tolerances, material quality, heat treating techniques, fit and finish and even paint and primer quality all go a long way in creating a long-lasting robust machine. HGG builds their own heavy duty chucks and rollers and they overbuild everything so that you are never truly maxing out the weight limits of the machine. HGG started in the shipbuilding industry, installing machines in open air shops by the salt water so they have 30 plus years experience in learning how to build machines that withstand not only the test of time but also harsh environments like an open air shop near water or a dirty, hot or cold fab shop. We encourage our customers to go see the machines in-person. Talk to the operators and owners and ask them what their experiences have been with the machine. Most of the time you can see and feel the build quality differences. We believe these machines should be a 20 year investment at least and we have customers with even older machines still producing for them daily.

If you are in the market for an automated pipe cutting solution for your shop a pipe profiling machine should be seriously considered. It is the fastest way to bring pipe in the shop cut and prep it and send it out to your fitting stations using our custom material handling options. Give us a call today to learn more.