Plasma Cutter

A plasma cutter was designed, fabricated and commissioned to sit on top of the permanent casing with a retractable arm to directing the cutting face to the inside of the casing. The down arm of the cutter was designed to be telescopic via control of an electric winch in order to suit the requirements of each cut, trimming of the permanent tube to just above the water line.

Resting on top of the casing using spacers to centralise the cutter was controlled by remote allowing the plasma to cut the steel. A hole, burned into the tube in advance allowed the discarded top segment to be lifted free via the crane after cutting.

Where piers for the viaduct were constructed over water, a permanent casing was used for the piling works. The casings required cutting 1-3m below the elevation of the jetty platform after piling was completed.

To allow the follow on contractor access and to replace the jetty deck segments on completion of the pile. This process posed a Safety Risk in its undertaking by hand, having to stand inside the casing. In order to eliminate this need we developed a mechanical means through fabrication of an automated casing cutter. This cut the casing at the required level whilst allowing the operator to control from a place of safety.