A slab scarfing apparatus comprises: an upper nozzle unit having an upper surface nozzle for scarfing an edge portion of the upper surface of a slab and having a first side nozzle scarfing an upper edge portion of the side surface of the slab and moving together with the upper surface nozzle; a lower nozzle unit having a lower nozzle for scarfing an edge portion of the lower surface of the slab and having a second side nozzle scarfing a lower edge portion of the side surface of the slab and moving together with the lower nozzle; and a moving apparatus for moving the upper nozzle unit and the lower nozzle unit to allow the upper nozzle unit and the lower nozzle unit to be adjacent to or to be spaced apart from an edge portion of the slab. A method of controlling the apparatus is provided.

A method and an apparatus efficiently and reliably cut a steel frame. The cutting method includes locating a cutting torch apart from the steel frame held by a holding device in a direction along a cutting surface, moving the cutting torch from a cutting start position to a first cutting end position in a first feed direction perpendicular to a supply direction along the cutting surface, while applying a flame from a fire port of the cutting torch in the supply direction and supplying cutting oxygen to thereby cut a part of the cutting surface, stopping the cutting torch at the first cutting end position and thereafter cutting an uncut part by moving the cutting torch from the first cutting end position in a second feed direction opposite to the first feed direction.

A torch cutting machine comprising a longitudinal travel way, a main carriage that travels along the travel way, and a boom assembly extending from the main carriage perpendicular to the travel way, the boom assembly comprising at least one cutting torch extending from a main boom. The boom assembly is rotatable with respect to the main carriage. Also, a method of cutting metal material where a boom of a torch cutting machine having a cutting torch extending therefrom, is placed over metal material in a first cutting bed, which is cut by moving the cutting torch. The boom is rotated 180 and positioned over material in a second cutting bed, which is cut in the same manner. Cut material is removed from the first cutting bed and new material is placed in the first cutting bed while the cutting of the material in the second cutting bed is being performed.

A method for producing workpiece parts from a plate-shaped workpiece in a processing machine or laser processing machine includes positioning and holding the workpiece on a workpiece support by clamping devices. A plurality of workpiece parts are cut out of the workpiece with a process beam. The process beam is moved relative to the workpiece support by a processing head and/or the workpiece is moved relative to the workpiece support by the clamping devices. A cutting process for processing the workpiece to produce the workpiece parts is interrupted at least once by a relaxation step for the workpiece. During the relaxation step at least one clamping device is released to relax the workpiece. The at least one clamping device is closed following the relaxation and before continuing the cutting process. A data processing program and a processing machine for producing the workpiece parts are also provided.