Systems and methods for cutting a plow bolt hole with a cutting torch

A non-transitory computer readable medium with computer executable instructions stored thereon executed by a processor to perform the method of:

• analyzing a computerized part file including a plurality of elements representing holes to be cut in a work piece;
• selecting an element having a particular size from the plurality of elements in the part file by identifying a circular element having a thickness-to-diameter ratio that is between a lower threshold and an upper threshold, wherein the thickness is a thickness of the work piece and the diameter is a diameter of the circular element;
• assigning a plow bolt hole identity to the selected element;
• associating the selected element with an aspect of an inner shape of a plow bolt hole to be cut in the work piece and an aspect of an outer shape of the plow bolt hole, wherein the outer shape circumscribes the inner shape;
• developing a tool path for a cutting torch that accounts for the aspect of the inner shape and the aspect of the outer shape and associating the tool path with the selected element;
• and
• outputting instructions for a computer numerical control (CNC) machine that moves the cutting torch along the tool path according to the instructions so as to cut both the inner shape and the outer shape of the plow bolt hole in the work piece consecutively without interrupting a flame of the cutting torch.