Abstract: A steering apparatus for an autogenous cutting torch for cutting holes of desired shape in flat or curved sheet walls, such as in the wall of a pipe. The steering apparatus comprises a holder arm for an autogenous cutting torch and means for guiding the holder arm in a manner that the autogenous cutting torch can be run along a certain desired orbit or path. A problem with the prior art steering equipment is the limited scope of application, e.g. to the cutting of flat sheets only. In order to expand the scope of application to also cover curved surfaces as well as combinations of flat and curved surfaces, the holder arm is designed as a long rod (4), arranged to be axially displaceable on a slide guide (7).