Pipe Hole Cutting Machine ORBICUT 600 | Automatic Saddle Hole Cutter for Steel Pipe

ORBICUT 600
Automatic pipe hole cutter • Oxy-fuel • Model ORBICUT 600

Round holes in round pipe. Cut to fit the branch.

The CRUXWELD ORBICUT 600 is a portable automatic pipe hole cutting machine for branch openings in steel pipe and vessels. It sits on the pipe, an electric drive carries the oxy-fuel torch round a centre cone, and a mechanical saddle-following system lifts and lowers the torch so the flame follows the curve. Holes from Ø80 to Ø600 mm, in 5 to 50 mm steel, square or bevelled up to 45°.

Ø80–600Hole diameter, mm
5–50 mmCutting thickness
0–45°Bevel angle
46.5 kgMachine body
🔄

Follows the pipe curveMechanical saddle following, set from 0 to 96 mm
🔥

Acetylene or propaneG02 or G03 cutting tips, sizes 1, 2 and 3 supplied
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WhatsApp + video supportSet-up help from our technical team

Price, delivery & technical help — get a fast response.

Overview

How it works

A circle from above, a saddle from the side

A hole for a branch pipe looks round from above, but on a curved pipe wall its edge rises and falls like a saddle. Cut by hand, that takes marking out and a steady torch. The ORBICUT 600 does both movements at once: the drive turns the torch in a true circle while the saddle mechanism moves it up and down to keep the tip at the right distance from the steel.

How the ORBICUT 600 follows the curve of the pipe while cutting a round holeVIEW ALONG THE PIPEThe torch rises at the crown and dropsat the sides: the saddle height.VIEW FROM ABOVEcentre coneThe drive turns the torch round the centrecone at 0.12 to 1.2 rpm: a true circle.Circle from above + saddle from the side = an opening a branch pipe fits
01

Set the saddle height and radiusWork out the saddle height from the pipe and hole diameters and set it on the torch-height knob, from 0 to 96 mm. Set the cutting radius with the handwheel on the sliding bar.
02

Sit the machine on the pipeThe symmetrical legs with rubber-covered feet centre the frame on the pipe. Bring the centre cone onto the marked centre of the opening with the fine-adjustment handwheel on the beam.
03

Check the path by handRelease the clutch and swing the torch once round by the handle. Watch it rise and fall and check that hoses and cable run clear.
04

Light, pierce and cutLight and adjust the flame, preheat and pierce, then start the drive in normal or reverse. Speed is set on the knob, from 0.12 to 1.2 rpm.
Watch it work

Pipe hole cutting in action

Play video
Play video
From the CRUXWELD Tech channel

Two short clips of the machine cutting

See the torch travel round the centre cone and follow the pipe wall as the opening is cut.

  • Powered rotation, normal or reverse
  • Torch rising and falling over the curve
  • The finished opening, ready for the branch
Built part by part

Watch the ORBICUT 600 come together

Eight assemblies, shown on the machine in the order they go on. Each one is highlighted on the photo with a close-up beside it.

1. Frame and legs2. Drive unit and clutch3. Control box4. Rotating gas distributor5. Saddle-following mechanism6. Sliding bar7. Centre cone8. Torch, tip and hoses
PART 1 OF 8

Frame and legs

Light aluminium-alloy frame. The two symmetrical legs sit on the pipe on rubber-covered feet and centre the machine over it. Standard legs suit pipe of Ø800 mm and above.

PART 2 OF 8

Drive unit and clutch

The electric drive turns the torch at 0.12 to 1.2 rpm. Release the clutch and the torch swings freely by hand to the start point.

PART 3 OF 8

Control box

Mounted on top where the operator can reach it: speed knob and normal/reverse switch, with SCR speed control. Supply AC 220 V.

PART 4 OF 8

Rotating gas distributor

Oxygen and fuel gas pass through a rotating joint, so the hoses do not twist however many turns the torch makes.

PART 5 OF 8

Saddle-following mechanism

Raises and lowers the torch as it travels round, so the flame follows the curve of the pipe. Saddle height is set from 0 to 96 mm.

PART 6 OF 8

Sliding bar and radius handwheel

The handwheel moves the torch along the bar to set the cutting radius, for holes from Ø80 to Ø600 mm.

PART 7 OF 8

Centre cone

Points at the centre of the opening. The torch travels in a circle around it.

PART 8 OF 8

Torch, tip and hoses

Oxy-fuel torch that tilts 0 to 45° for bevels. G02 tips for acetylene or G03 for propane; cuts 5 to 50 mm steel.

✓ COMPLETE

ORBICUT 600, ready on the pipe

46.5 kg machine body. Set the saddle height and radius, connect oxygen and fuel gas, and cut the branch opening.

Ø80–600 mmhole diameter
5–50 mmcutting thickness
0–45°bevel angle
46.5 kgmachine body
Parts diagram

Every control, named

The thirteen parts an operator uses. The numbers on the drawing match the list beside it.

ORBICUT 600 • General arrangementORBICUT 600 automatic pipe hole cutter line drawing with 13 numbered parts
1Control unitSpeed and direction controls, on top within easy reach.
2Forward / reverse switchChooses which way the torch travels.
3Gas flow control valvesRegulate gas flow to the torch.
4Manual positioning handleWith the clutch released, turn it to position the torch.
5Centre pointAligns with the centre of the hole; the torch rotates around it.
6Cutting nozzleG02 for acetylene, G03 for propane.
7Support legsPosition and support the machine on the pipe.
8Speed control knobSets rotation from 0.12 to 1.2 rpm.
9Clutch leverDisengages the drive for positioning by hand.
10Gas supply lineInlet for oxygen and fuel gas.
11Torch height adjustment knobSets the saddle height, 0 to 96 mm.
12Radius adjustment barCarries the torch at the cutting radius.
13Radius adjustment handwheelMoves the torch along the bar to set the hole size.
Why fabricators pick it

What the ORBICUT 600 does for a pipe shop

ORBICUT 600 pipe hole cutting machine: Follows the curve by itself
Saddle following

Follows the curve by itself

Once the saddle height is set, the mechanism raises and lowers the torch through every turn. The tip stays at working distance from crown to side of the pipe.

ORBICUT 600 pipe hole cutting machine: Weld preparation in the same pass
Bevel cutting

Weld preparation in the same pass

The torch tilts from 0 to 45°, so the opening can be cut with the bevel the weld needs. For bevels over 20° use the next tip size up.

ORBICUT 600 pipe hole cutting machine: Hoses that do not twist
Rotating gas distributor

Hoses that do not twist

Oxygen and fuel gas feed through a rotating joint between the frame and the torch, so the hoses stay untwisted through any number of turns.

ORBICUT 600 pipe hole cutting machine: Set up by hand, cut under power
Clutch and handle

Set up by hand, cut under power

Release the clutch to move the torch round by the handle for positioning and a dry run, then engage it and let the drive make the cut.

ORBICUT 600 pipe hole cutting machine: Carried to the pipe, not the other way
Portable frame

Carried to the pipe, not the other way

The casing is mainly aluminium alloy to keep the weight down: 46.5 kg for the machine body. It stands on the pipe on four balanced feet.

ORBICUT 600 pipe hole cutting machine: One machine, two jobs
Pipe and flat plate

One machine, two jobs

With the saddle height set to zero it cuts plain circles and bevelled circles in flat plate, using the same centre cone and radius setting.

The result

What the cut looks like

ORBICUT 600: on the pipeOn the pipeThe torch circling the centre cone on a steel pipe.
ORBICUT 600: bevelled openingBevelled openingA clean bevelled edge, ready for the branch weld.
ORBICUT 600: repeat openingsRepeat openingsA row of branch openings along one header pipe.
Will it fit your job

Pipe size, hole size and saddle height go together

Sizing rules from the manual

Check these before you order

  • Standard legs suit main pipe of Ø800 mm and above
  • The small-pipe attachment, supplied with the machine, takes it down to main pipe of Ø250 mm
  • Hole diameter to main-pipe diameter should be 1:2 or smaller, that is, the hole no more than half the pipe
  • The saddle height the job needs must fall within 0 to 96 mm
Two ways a branch joins

Set-in or set-on

For a set-in branch, which passes into the main pipe, the hole matches the outside diameter of the branch. For a set-on branch, which sits on the main pipe, the hole matches its inside diameter. Tell us which you weld and our technical team will confirm the setting.

8–10 mmtip to steel, acetylene
5–8 mmtip to steel, LPG
Applications

Where a pipe hole cutter earns its keep

🚧

Branch and tee connectionsOpenings in header and main pipes for branch lines.
🏭

Pressure vessel shellsNozzle openings in vessel shells, cut to the drawing.
♻

Heat exchangersShell openings for nozzles and connections.
🛢

Tanks and cylindrical vesselsManway and nozzle openings in rolled shells.
⭕

Circles in flat platePlain and bevelled circles with the saddle height at zero.
📐

Bevel preparationWeld bevels of up to 45° around the opening.
Good practice

Getting a clean opening

Fix the pipe so it cannot shift during the cut, and keep the machine free of vibration.
Do a full dry run by hand with the clutch released before lighting the torch.
Use a neutral flame and clean the tip with the cleaning needle if the cutting jet is disturbed.
Check every gas connection with leak-detection liquid; never use oil or grease on oxygen fittings.
Stop the drive and wait for it to come to rest before changing direction.
Earth the machine through its power cable, and do not use it outdoors in wet weather.
Pairs with

More from the gas cutting range

The ORBICUT 600 cuts openings in the pipe wall. These cut the pipe to length, the plate to size and the bevel on the pipe end.

Tell us the pipe and the hole. We will confirm the set-up.

Send the pipe outside diameter, wall thickness, hole diameter, bevel and fuel gas. Our technical team replies on WhatsApp with suitability, price and delivery.

Specifications

ORBICUT 600 Technical Data

Automatic pipe hole cutting machine

General
Model
ORBICUT 600
Type
Automatic pipe hole cutting machine
Process
Oxy-fuel flame cutting
Surface following
Mechanical saddle-following system
Cutting
Hole diameter
Ø80 – Ø600 mm
Cutting thickness
5 – 50 mm
Bevel angle
0 – 45°
Saddle height
0 – 96 mm
Main pipe diameter, standard legs
Ø800 mm and above
Main pipe diameter, with small-pipe attachment
Ø250 mm and above
Hole to pipe diameter ratio
1:2 or smaller
Cutting tips
G02 (acetylene) or G03 (propane)
Drive
Cutting speed
0.12 – 1.2 rpm
Speed control
SCR control
Direction
Normal / reverse switch
Drive motor
110 V, 68 W, 6000 rpm
Power source
AC 220 V ±10%
Size
Dimensions (L × W × H)
1060 × 560 × 820 mm
Weight, machine body
46.5 kg
Weight, accessories
3.5 kg

The 110 V rating is the internal drive motor; the machine is supplied from AC 220 V. Hole size, main-pipe diameter and saddle height must be considered together, so the full Ø80 to 600 mm range is not available on every pipe size. For carbon and mild steel suited to oxy-fuel cutting. Specifications as published by CRUXWELD.

Accessories

Scope of supply

What comes with the machine

ORBICUT 600 pipe hole cutting machine, front view
  • 1ORBICUT 600 machine body with control box, drive, torch and centre cone
  • 2Small-radius pipe cutting attachment, 1 set, for main pipe down to Ø250 mm
  • 3Cutting tips G02 or G03, sizes 1, 2 and 3, one of each
  • 4Inlet gas connection, 1 set, and power cable
  • 5Spanner set, Phillips screwdriver and tip-cleaning needle
  • 6Instruction manual and certificate
Tell us when ordering: acetylene (G02 tips) or propane (G03 tips). Not included: gas cylinders, regulators, supply hoses and flashback arrestors.

Description

About the product

ORBICUT 600 automatic pipe hole cutting machine

The CRUXWELD ORBICUT 600 is a portable pipe hole cutting machine that cuts round branch openings in steel pipe, vessel shells and heat-exchanger shells with an oxy-fuel torch. The frame stands on the workpiece, a centre cone marks the middle of the opening, and an electric drive carries the torch round it at 0.12 to 1.2 rpm. Holes from Ø80 to Ø600 mm can be cut in steel from 5 to 50 mm thick.

What sets it apart from a circle cutter is the saddle-following mechanism. On a curved pipe wall the edge of a round hole rises and falls, and the mechanism lifts and lowers the torch through each turn to match, over a saddle height of 0 to 96 mm. The opening that results is the shape a branch pipe needs for a set-in or set-on joint.

Bevels, flat plate and small pipe

The torch tilts from 0 to 45° to cut the weld bevel with the opening. With the saddle height set to zero the same machine cuts plain and bevelled circles in flat plate. Standard legs suit main pipe of Ø800 mm and above, and the small-pipe attachment supplied with the machine extends that down to Ø250 mm.

Built to be carried

The casing is mainly aluminium alloy, the machine body weighs 46.5 kg and measures 1060 × 560 × 820 mm. A clutch lets the operator position the torch by hand, a rotating gas distributor stops the hoses twisting, and the control box on top carries the speed knob and the normal/reverse switch. It runs on AC 220 V with G02 tips for acetylene or G03 tips for propane.

The ORBICUT 600 sits in the Gas Cutting range beside the CIRCO 600 circle cutting machine, the TUBOCUT HG pipe cutting machine and the GLIDO 2T. Our technical team helps with set-up on WhatsApp and video call.

Question & Answers

FAQ

Pipe Hole Cutting Machine — Frequently Asked Questions

▸What does the ORBICUT 600 cut?
Round openings in the wall of steel pipe, vessel shells and other cylindrical work, for branch and nozzle connections. With the saddle height set to zero it also cuts circles in flat plate.
▸Is it a pipe cut-off machine?
No. It cuts a hole in the side of a pipe for a branch. To cut pipe to length, see the TUBOCUT pipe cutting machines.
▸What hole sizes can it cut?
From 80 to 600 mm diameter. The size you can use also depends on the main pipe: the hole should be no more than half the pipe diameter, and the saddle height must fall within 0 to 96 mm.
▸What pipe diameter does it work on?
Main pipe of 800 mm diameter and above with the standard legs, and from 250 mm with the small-pipe attachment that is supplied with the machine.
▸What thickness can it cut?
Steel from 5 to 50 mm thick, with the tip size chosen for the thickness.
▸Can it cut a bevel?
Yes, from 0 to 45 degrees. For bevels over 20 degrees, or on heavily rusted plate, use the next tip size up.
▸Does it run on acetylene or propane?
Either. G02 tips are for acetylene and G03 tips for propane. Tell us your fuel gas when ordering so the right tips are supplied.
▸Is it a CNC machine?
No. Rotation is powered and the torch follows the pipe curve mechanically. There is no programming; the operator sets the radius, saddle height and speed.
▸What materials is it for?
Carbon and mild steel, the steels that oxy-fuel cutting suits. It is not for stainless steel or aluminium.
▸What power supply does it need?
AC 220 V, plus or minus 10 percent, with an earthed supply. Speed is set by an SCR controller.
▸How heavy is it?
The machine body weighs 46.5 kg and the accessories 3.5 kg. It measures 1060 x 560 x 820 mm.
▸How do I get a quotation?
Send the pipe outside diameter, wall thickness, hole diameter, bevel and fuel gas on WhatsApp to +91 88008 82983. Our technical team replies with suitability, price and delivery.

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Pipe Hole Cutting Machine ORBICUT 600 | Automatic Saddle Hole Cutter for Steel Pipe

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