What are the recommended settings and preparations for oxy-acetylene welding based on plate thickness and technique, and what are the different flame types?

This image contains three tables related to oxy-acetylene welding:

Table I & II: Plate thickness, preparation, settings, filler rod and tip section
This table provides welding parameters based on the technique, plate thickness, and number of operators.

• Technique:
  • DOWNHAND:
    • Forehand: For plate thicknesses from 0.8 mm to 16.0 mm. Specifies filler rod diameters (1.5 mm to 6.3 mm), acetylene flow rates (1.5 l/min to 33.0 l/min), and tip sizes (8 to 32).
    • Backhand: For plate thicknesses from 3.0 mm to 16.0 mm. Specifies filler rod diameters (2.4 mm to 6.3 mm), acetylene flow rates (5.5 l/min to 33.0 l/min), and tip sizes (15 to 32).
  • VERTICAL:
    • 1 operator: For plate thicknesses from 1.5 mm to 16.0 mm. Specifies filler rod diameters (1.6 mm to 6.3 mm), acetylene flow rates (2.5 l/min to 33.0 l/min), and tip sizes (8 to 32).
    • 2 operators: For plate thicknesses from 5.0 mm to 16.0 mm. Specifies filler rod diameters (2.4 mm to 5.0 mm), acetylene flow rates (4.0 l/min to 8.0 l/min), and tip sizes (10 to 15).
• Preparation: Diagrams illustrate different joint preparations, such as square butt joints and V-grooves with varying angles (e.g., 60°).

Table III: Flame settings
This table describes three types of oxy-acetylene flames, their characteristics, and visual appearance.

• Neutral:
  • Description: No excess of oxygen or acetylene. The inner flame cone has a faint flicker at the end, indicating a pre-carburising state.
  • Visual: An illustration shows a flame with a distinct inner cone and a larger outer envelope.
• Oxidising:
  • Description: Excess of oxygen. The inner flame cone is reduced. The greater the reduction compared to a neutral flame, the greater the excess oxygen.
  • Visual: An illustration shows a shorter, sharper inner cone compared to the neutral flame.
• Carburising:
  • Description: Excess of acetylene. The inner cone becomes ragged. A luminous, feathery secondary cone becomes visible. The greater the relative length of this secondary cone to the inner neutral cone, the greater the excess of acetylene.
  • Visual: An illustration shows a longer, less defined inner cone with a visible feathery secondary cone.