Starweld Engineering delivers CNC flame cutting in Sheffield for carbon steel plate up to 150mm thick. From our Sheffield workshop we cut single profiles, prototypes and full production batches for clients across Yorkshire and the wider UK, with quick turnaround, ISO 9001 quality documentation, and the option of free-issue material or full sourcing on your behalf.
What is CNC Flame Cutting?
CNC flame cutting — also called oxy-fuel cutting or profile burning — uses a high-temperature oxygen and fuel-gas flame to cut through carbon steel by oxidising it at the cut line. The nozzle path is driven by computer numerical control (CNC), so complex profiles can be cut accurately and repeatably from CAD drawings.
It’s the most cost-effective process for cutting thick mild steel plate, which is why it’s the standard method for structural steelwork, heavy fabrication, pressure vessel components and any application where plate thickness exceeds the practical limit of plasma or laser cutting. For more on the underlying process, see The Welding Institute’s overview of oxy-fuel cutting.
Our CNC Flame Cutting Capabilities
Our Sheffield flame cutting service handles:
- Carbon steel and mild steel plate up to 150mm thick — including S275, S355 and other structural grades
- Complex profiles from CAD drawings — straight cuts, curves, internal cut-outs, slots and holes
- Single profiles, prototypes, and batch production runs
- Free-issue plate or material sourced through us — including mill test certificates
- Full material traceability under our ISO 9001 quality management system
For thinner plate, stainless steel and aluminium, see our CNC plasma cutting service, which is better suited to those materials and thicknesses.
CNC Flame Cutting vs Plasma Cutting
Both processes are CNC-driven, but they suit different jobs:
- Flame cutting — best for carbon steel plate from around 6mm up to 150mm. Highly cost-effective on thick plate, but not suitable for stainless steel or aluminium (the cutting reaction relies on the steel oxidising in the oxygen stream).
- Plasma cutting — best for mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium up to around 50mm. Faster, with a finer kerf, and works across a wider range of materials, but less economical for very thick plate.
If you’re not sure which process suits your job, send us the drawing and material specification and we’ll advise on the right route.
Materials We Flame Cut
- Mild steel and structural steel — S275, S355 and similar grades
- Carbon steel plate up to 150mm thick
- Boiler plate and pressure vessel steels
- Weathering steel (Corten and equivalents)
- Quenched and tempered plate (Hardox-type) — please confirm specification before quoting
Stainless steel and aluminium are not suited to oxy-fuel cutting; for those we recommend our CNC plasma cutting service.
Industries We Serve
Starweld’s CNC flame cutting service supports:
- Structural steelwork and construction — gusset plates, base plates, brackets, cleats
- Heavy fabrication and engineering — frames, ribs, end plates, machinery components
- Pressure vessels and heat treatment furnaces — see our heat treatment furnace build portfolio
- Pipeline, railway and energy infrastructure
- Marine, defence and aerospace — including high-spec work such as our nuclear waste transfer flask programme
- Heavy equipment manufacturing and maintenance
- Metal recycling and dismantling
Why Choose Starweld for CNC Flame Cutting in Sheffield
From Profiled Plate to Finished Component, Under One Roof
Flame cutting is rarely the end of the job — most profiles need further work. Starweld brings steel fabrication and welding, precision engineering, and CAD design and 3D printing together in the same Sheffield workshop. That means profiled plate can be welded, machined to final tolerance and finished without leaving site — removing the lead time and quality risk of multi-supplier supply chains.
ISO 9001 Quality Documentation
Every flame cut profile is produced under the ISO 9001 certified quality management system of our parent company, Heaps, Arnold & Heaps Ltd. Material certificates and inspection records are supplied with delivery, or available on request for jobs requiring full traceability.
80 Years of Sheffield Engineering Heritage
Starweld was founded in Sheffield in 1944, and our parent group’s manufacturing heritage runs back to 1770. That depth of experience matters when you’re cutting heavy plate to tight tolerances for safety-critical applications.
Quick Turnaround and Flexible Material Supply
We work to fast lead times for both single profiles and batch quantities. Supply your own plate (free-issue) or have us source certified material on your behalf — whatever suits the job. If something on-site needs urgent attention, our mobile welding service can run alongside the cutting work.
Serving Sheffield, Yorkshire and the UK
Our CNC flame cutting service operates from our workshop on Harleston Street, Sheffield (S4 7QB), serving clients across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, Chesterfield and the wider Yorkshire region. For UK-wide projects, we offer collection, delivery and project co-ordination as standard.
CNC Flame Cutting FAQ
What's the maximum plate thickness you can flame cut?
Our CNC flame cutting service handles carbon steel plate up to 150mm thick. For thinner plate, or for stainless steel and aluminium, plasma cutting is usually more economical — see our plasma cutting service for those materials.
What materials can be cut by CNC flame cutting?
Flame cutting works on ferrous metals — mild steel, carbon steel, structural grades (S275, S355), weathering steels and some quenched/tempered plate. It can't be used on stainless steel, aluminium or other non-ferrous materials because the cutting reaction relies on the metal oxidising in the oxygen stream. For those materials, use plasma cutting.
What's the difference between CNC flame cutting and plasma cutting?
Both are CNC-driven profile cutting processes but they suit different jobs. Flame cutting (oxy-fuel) is the most economical option for thick carbon steel plate — typically anything over 25mm and up to 150mm. Plasma cutting is faster and works on a wider range of materials including stainless steel and aluminium, but it's less cost-effective on very thick plate. Send us your specification and we'll recommend the right process.
Can I supply my own steel for cutting (free-issue)?
Yes — we'll happily work with customer-supplied plate (free-issue material). Alternatively, we can source certified plate to your specification, complete with mill test certificates and full traceability under our ISO 9001 quality system. Whichever suits the job.
What file formats do you accept for CNC flame cutting?
We work from standard CAD formats — DXF is most common, plus DWG and PDF drawings with clear dimensions. If you've only got a sketch or a physical sample, we can produce drawings for you through our in-house CAD design service.
Do you handle one-off profiles or only batch production?
Both — we cut single profiles, small batches and full production runs. Pricing scales with quantity, and we're equally happy with a single bracket or a few thousand identical parts.
Do you provide material certificates and traceability?
Yes — every job is produced under the ISO 9001 certified quality management system of our parent company, Heaps, Arnold & Heaps Ltd. Mill test certificates and inspection records are supplied with delivery, or available on request for jobs that require full traceability.
Where are you based and what areas do you cover?
We're based at Harleston Street, Sheffield, S4 7QB, and serve clients across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Doncaster, Chesterfield and the wider Yorkshire region. For UK-wide projects we offer collection, delivery and project co-ordination as standard.
How do I get a quote for CNC flame cutting?
Send us your DXF or PDF drawing along with material specification, quantity and required lead time. Give us a ring on 0114 272 0283, email sales@starweld.co.uk, or call into the Sheffield workshop, and we'll come back with pricing and timings.
Get a Quote for CNC Flame Cutting in Sheffield
Send us your DXF drawing or PDF along with material specification, quantity and required lead time, and we’ll come back with pricing and timings.
Call 0114 272 0283, email sales@starweld.co.uk, or call into the Sheffield workshop to discuss your project.
Starweld Sheffield — Precision. Strength. Reliability.