TS EN ISO 17658

TS EN ISO 17658 is a terminology standard for imperfections that can occur in oxyfuel flame cuts, laser beam cuts, and plasma cuts. In welding and fabrication practice, it provides a common technical language for describing irregularities and deviations in cut shape and location in metallic materials.

Why a shared vocabulary for cutting imperfections matters

The standard’s subject is the naming and grouping of possible imperfections in cuts made on metallic materials. Here, an imperfection is not just a visible rough spot; it is any irregularity or deviation from the specified shape and position of the cut. Standardised terminology helps engineers, inspectors, and manufacturers describe the same condition consistently across different cutting processes and documentation.

Processes covered in the terminology

The document focuses on three widely used thermal cutting processes. Oxyfuel cutting relies on oxidation and heat, laser beam cutting uses concentrated optical energy, and plasma cutting uses a high-energy ionised gas stream. Because these methods differ in energy source and cut formation, the same general family of imperfections may appear in different forms or with different practical significance. A terminology standard helps distinguish and name those conditions without turning the document into a test or acceptance specification.

As a terminology standard, this document does not itself set inspection limits, acceptance criteria, or measurement procedures. Its practical value is conceptual: it aligns the language used in drawings, quality records, inspection reports, and technical specifications so that cutting imperfections are identified consistently and without ambiguity.

• Collects and groups terms for imperfections in metallic-material cuts.
• Applies to oxyfuel flame, laser beam, and plasma cutting.
• Treats imperfections as deviations from specified cut shape and location.
• Supports consistent technical communication rather than prescribing test limits.