Nitrogen Cutting

Nitrogen cutting (also called nitrogen-assist or inert-gas cutting) is required for all non-ferrous materials and stainless steel, using inert nitrogen gas to blow molten material from the cut and prevent oxidation that would compromise material properties. Nitrogen is essential for preserving corrosion resistance on stainless and maintaining the inherent strength of aluminum, copper, and brass alloys.

The tradeoff is that nitrogen cutting is more expensive than oxygen cutting because nitrogen is more costly and cutting speeds are typically slower than oxygen-assist methods. However, the superior edge quality, elimination of oxide layer, and preservation of material properties make nitrogen the only acceptable choice for applications where appearance or corrosion performance matters.

For architectural stainless applications, food-service equipment, and precision assemblies where the cut edge will be visible or functional, nitrogen cutting delivers the pristine edge quality required to meet design intent.