Metal working

Abstract

A method of working metal in which molten metal particles are ejected from, for example, a welding electrode or from a metal workpiece being cut or drilled. The ejected molten metal particles are caused to pass through a contact region in which they make contact with a cryogen, for example, liquid nitrogen or solid carbon dioxide. The contact renders the particles non-adherent to any adjacent surface to which the particles would otherwise adhere. Alternatively, the adjacent surface may be cooled by contact with a cryogen so as to render the particles non-adherent thereto.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.