Flame Straightening

Figure 1 Flame straightening

with the Star single-flame
torch

A range of torches specially developed

by Messer for flame straightening,
an effective and economic process for
eliminating distortion due to welding.

Figures 2 and 3
Flame straightening of plating with reversible
flame straightening torches, using three or two
flames torch

FLAME STRAIGHTENING TORCHES HAND CUTTING TORCHES MACHINE CUTTING TORCHES NOZZLES ACCESSORIES

TORCHES for

Rame straightening methods

for eliminating angular dis~to~rt~j~o~n====,,"",===:
When working with reversible
3 or 5-flame torches, the
following rules must be
observed :
First straighten the stif!eners (reinforcement
elements) .
This is only possible with Ihe Next. eliminate the angular
contractions on the stiffenolCYgen-acetylene flame
which has the highest tempeers by heating the reverse
rature compared with other
side of the fillet welds.
fuel gasJoxygen mixtures.
Then straighten the
remaining zones 01 material.
Recent research shows Ihat it
is best to use an oxy-acetyStraighten any distortion still
lene flame with an oxygen
surplus of approximately 30
present in the zones after
to 40 %. This gives a signifiheating along Ihe stiffeners.
cant increase in the efficiency
of the flame, raising the flame Choosing the right name
temperature.
straightening lorch and the
The basic principle of flame
straightening sections
straightening involves the use
Several different types of
of localised heating in conRame straightening of
flame straightening torch may
junction 'Nith the prevention of sections
expansion (Figure 4). This
Rolled steel sections are par- be used, depending on the
process leads to compression ticularly suitable for flame
duly concerned.
straightening. Make sure,
the heated zones and, on
however. that the correct
cooling, to contraction of
The choice of torch is geared
those zones which had been heating sequence is observed to the necessary straightentoo long.
(Figure 5).
ing section and the plate
thickness which is involved.
Whatever straightening
method is used, a set of basic
Depending on the application,
rules must be observed. Then.
the heat input for flame
taking into account one's own
straightening can be applied
observations, a successful
in the following manner:
straightening operation can
Circular heated areas
be performed. Above all. it is
Linear heated areas
important to first identify the
Oval heated areas
cause of the buckling and
Triangular heated areas
distortion.
Ringshaped heated areas
The principles
oillarne straightening
The shrinkage stresses
caused by welding lead to
contraction of the immediately
adjacent zone of the material.
As a resuh. distortion and
buckling occur in the zones
away from the weld. In the
case of Iillet welds, these undesirable features are intensified by the angular contraction. Therefore, the zones adjacent to the weld have been
shortened. while Ihe unwelded zones of the material have
become too long. For this
reason, the lengthened zones
have to be compressed. as it
is generally not possible to
lengt hen the shortened
zones.

Rame setting
During flame straightening,
the heated area should not be
heated to an unnecessarily
high temperature. Successful
ftame straightening requires a
well defined area of malerial
to be heated very quickly to
around GOO to 650 Q C.

0'

Suitable torches
The following torches are
available:
Single-flame torch with
suitable head size for circular heated areas on thin
sheets (1 to 4 mm).
The same heads (size to
suit workpiece thickness)
lor ring-shaped or oval
heated areas.
Single or multi-flame
torches for triangular
heated areas. e. g. on sections.
Special torches for sizes
80 to 100 mm and above
for straightening slabs.
Specially developed reversible 3 or 5-flame larches
for eliminating angular distortion.
Rame straightening torches
Single-flame straightening
torch for acetylene
Size 1 to B
suitable for Starlet handpiece
Size 9 and 10 Z-A
suitable 'or Star handpiece.
Konstanthenn single-flame
straightening torch for acetylene
Size 6 , 8 and 10
suitable for Star handpiece
Multi-flame straightening
torch 'or acetylene
Size Band 9 F-A
suitable for Star handpiece
Reversible flame straightening
torch Star handpiece
3/2 flames with nozzles
2-4 mm or 4-6 mm
5/3 flames with nozzles
2-4 mm or 4-6 mm.

In each case, the heat input is

concentrated in a well-defined
area.

Figure 4 Compression through heating

Figure 5 Types of heating pattern

Type of healing pattern

Heating

Compression a the heated zone

by preventing heal expansion

__

~'------~=
Contraction

on cooling

...Jv.;

Circular
heated areas

Ring-shaped
and oval
healed areas

To be used for

Unear
heated areas

Triangular
heated area

Unear and
triangular
heated areas

F ~

0
0
0
0
0

~
-

.!be'

']

242.54800
242.56800
FIgure 6 Si rogle-Hame
straighte ning torch
Fig ure 7 Konstantherm
slngle-llame straighte ning
torch

716.00045

Figu re 6 MU lti-llame
straightening torch

Fig ure 9 Rame straightening of sections. The arrows show the deformation direction

Heat both legs

simultaneously.
then web

Heat web first, then leg

Heat both legs

simultaneously

Heat leg 1 first.

then leg 2

t
Heat both flanges
simultaneously

Heat web first. then flange

Figure 11 Recommended
work sequence for heating
along the stiffeners

Tn + nT
[
[

, t III

III Off",
III t
- III o
III
!II

il l
ill
il l
iII
ill

Fig ure 13 Work sequence for

heating proud zones

m
[

:- + _ : _ ~- ~f--

Iii
III
III
III
III

III

III
III
III
III
Iii

1, 2,3= 1st run 4,5,6=2ndrun

1L

1L

:",~,,---,.!..vl

I[

00. t2.178a

Fig ure 12 Reversible flame

straightening torch Star with
5/3 flames

00.12.t8a

Figure 10 Reversible flame

straightening torch Star with
3/2 flames

Heat web first, then flange

ill

III
III
III
III

III
III
III +
III
III
III

, ~II

'III
2~1I

'III

1st and

2 nd run

", III." 3
'" III "'
'"
III
III

Ji "

3 rd run

'" III ,,'

",
'"'" III ,"
",
/.'1 '"
4"
"" 4
'I:: 111 Ii:!
'"III' ''
H'

4th run
(option a)

. w.

3""
, ,1ft,", 3
IlMot ..

. .-l 'II'"

4 ::~:: 4
'-; :wo..' ,/
, III"

3rdand4th
run (option b)

Article numbers and operating data

Flame straightening head
Suitable
Welding
handpiece
range
(mm)
Single-flame heating head torch
Starlet 211-A size 1
0.5 - 1.0
Starlet 2221
Starlet 211-A size 2
1.0 - 2.0
Starlet 2221
Starlet 211-A size 3
2.0 - 4.0
Starlet 2221
Starlet 211-A size 3,5
Starlet 2221
3.0 - 3.5
Starlet 211-A size 4
4.0 - 6.0
Starlet 2221
Starlet 211-A size 5
6.0 - 9.0
Starlet 2221
Starlet 211-A size 6
9.0 - 14.0
Starlet 2221
Starlight Z-A size 7
14.0 - 20.0
Starlet 2221
Starlight Z-A size 8
20.0 - 30.0
Starlet 2221
Star Z-A size 9
30.0 - 40.0
Star 2020
Star Z-A size 10
Over 40
Star 2020
Ko nstantherm heating torch
Star Konstantherm size 6
9.0 - 14.0
Star 2020
Star Konstantherm size 8
20.0 - 30.0
Star 2020
Multi-flame heating head torc h
Star F-A size 8
20.0 - 30.0
Star 2020
Star F-A size 9
30.0 - 40.0
Star 2020
Flame straightening torch
Starlight Z2-A size 2-4mm
2 nozzles
Starlet 2221
Starlight Z2-A size 4-6mm
2 nozzles
Starlet 2221
Starlight Z3-A size 2-4mm
3 nozzles
Starlet 2221
Starlight Z3-A size 4-6mm
3 nozzles
Starlet 2221
Starlight Z5A size 2-4mm
Starlet 2221
5 nozzles
Starlight Z5-A size 46mm
5 nozzles
Starlet 2221
Reversi ble Flame straightening to rch
Star A 3/2 size 24mm
3 or 2 nozzles
Star 2020
3 or 2 nozzles
Star A 3/2 size 46mm
Star 2020
Star A 5/3 size 2-4mm
5 or 3 nozzles
Star 2020
Star A S/3 size 4-6mm
5 or 3 nozzles
Star 2020

Ie::

STAR 2020
Handpiece

I~

Oxygen
pressure
(bar)

Acetylene
pressure
(bar)

consumption
(m 3 /h)

consumption
(m 3/h)

716.01611
716.01612
716.01613
716.01830
716.01614
716.01615
716.01616
716.51805
716.51806
716.07297
716.97298

2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 4.0
3.0 - 4.0

0.07 - 0.10
0.13 - 0.18
0.24 - 0.32
0.40 - 0.53
0.37 - 0.49
0.63 - 0.83
1.07 - 1.43
1.48 - 1.97
2.14 - 2.84
3.12 - 4.15
3.80 - 5.05

0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.4 - 0.7
0.7 - 0.8

0.07 - 0.10
0.13 - 0.18
0.24 - 0.32
0.40 - 0.53
0.37 - 0.49
0.63 - 0.83
1.07 - 1.43
1.48 - 1.97
2.14 - 2.84
3.12 - 4.15
3.80 - 5.05

242.56600
242.56800

2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5

1.75
3.50

0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5

1.25
2.50

242.54800
716.00864

2.5 - 3.0
2.5 - 3.0

2.3 - 3.7
3.9 - 4.5

0.4
0.7 - 0.8

2.1 - 2.5
3.6 - 4.1

716.07286
716.07287
716.06810
716.06811
716.06812
716.06813

2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 35
2.5 - 3.5
2.5 - 3.5

0.37-0.49
0.80-1.10
1,07-1.43
1.48-1.97
1.80-2.10
1.24-2.84

0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0 .5
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - 0 .5
0.2 - 0.5

0.37-0.49
0.80-1.10
1.071.43
1.481.97
1.80-2.10
1.24-2.84

716.01760
716.01761
716.01762
716.01763

25 - 35
25 - 35
25 35
25 - 35

1.07-1.43
1.48-1.97
1.80 2.10
2.14-2.84

0.2 - 0.5
0.2 - O.S
0.2 - 0.5
0.2 05

1.071.43
1.48-1.97
1.80-2.10
2.14-2.84

Type

Part No.

Standard

Mixer
Type

2221 ME
2221 M8
2221 MU
2221 MF
2221 MAS

716.06815
716.07120
716.07121
716.07122
716.07123

CGA

Type

Part No.

Standard

2020 ME
2020 M8
2020 MU
2020 MF
2020 MAS

716.06820
716.07230
716.07231
716.07232
716.07233

I
I

Starlet 2221
Hand piece

Article
number

Inlet Connection
Oxygen
Fue l gas

DIN

G1W~I1(M)

G 3/8' U; IMI

BSP

G 3/8"~ I1 I M )

G 3I8'LHIM)

Messer

9/1WNF'~I-IIM)

9/lWNF-LI-IIM)

NFE

MI6d , ~RI-I(M)

MI6d.SLH(M)

AS

S/W NFRH(M)

S/8UNF-lHIM)

Mixer
Type

Inlet Connection
Oxygen
Fuel gas

DIN

G 1/4"RI-I(M)

BSP
CGA

G 3/8"RH(M)

G l/8"I.HIM)

9/16UN F' ~ ~IM)

9/lW Nf.LHIM)

NFE

MI6d.~RI-IIM)

M I 6d . ~LH(M)

AS

5/8UNFRH(M)

S!&U'If.l.HIM)

Messer

G l!&"LHIM)

MES5ER@
Cutting Systems
.:dilion 01111
Subjt(1 10 ( h. nge whhout nOI)(e C O;>'I
e l\I~ "r C ulling S)-,;I~In ' Cn,bll
rrgiSI(rfil '",demark or

Your aUlhori7.cd Messer dislri butor ;

Jl.1!'SS('r Cutting S)"sirms Cmbll

ol)'ru(1

T~chnology

Messer C Ulling S)slelR! G m bH

Oxyrud l'ecIUlO IOro'
Otto-Hahn Stralle 2 4
D 64823 CroO Umslarll Germany
Phone +49 6078 787-0
Fax +49 6078 7tH- ISO
E mail; Inro@ messer. cs.lI('
In lernt"t: www.llIt..Sser- cs.lIt..