http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_TechCell.cfm The Welding Inspection tech cell is packed with specific links to help you find product information, suppliers, technical articles, case studies, seminars and conferences, as well as books, software, and videos on metal fabricating-related topics. en-us http://www.thefabricator.com/RSS/images/thefabricator_rss.gif http://www.thefabricator.com Copyright 2007 FMA Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. official publication date Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:19:06 AM CDT Vicki Bell Laurie Harshbarger http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=1681 Ensuring that welders follow specific procedures is a crucial step in the overall welding quality system. There are a number of reasons to inspect a weld, the most fundamental of which is to determine whether its quality is good enough for its intended application. To evaluate the quality of a weld, it is necessary to have a form of measurement to compare its characteristics and a qualified individual to perform the evaluation. It is not practical to evaluate quality witho... Tony Anderson Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=1598 A welder is just one member of the team required in the production of a product. Every person involved in the welding operation needs to perform his or her own assigned duties, which may include design, materials, processes, and compliance. When there is a weakness in any one of these functions, the welder usually gets blamed for the bad weld. Welders are under tremendous pressure to produce, and the good ones learn to become inspectors of their own work. Sometimes it is easy for m... Dr. Jesse A. Grantham Tue, 10 Apr 2007 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=1460 Ultrasonics is simple in principle, but complex in practice. A piezoelectric probe element is pulsed electrically and converts this pulse into a mechanical wave that travels into the component. This wave reflects from any discontinuity—a defect, back wall, or material change, for example—back to the probe and typically is read from an LCD screen. With digitization, these signals can be saved, displayed, and processed on a computer. Generally, these capabilities aren't exploit... Michael Moles, Contributing Writer Tue, 03 Oct 2006 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=1377 Nondestructive testing is one quality control function and complements other, long-established methods. By definition, nondestructive testing is the testing of materials for surface or internal flaws or metallurgical condition without interfering in any way with the integrity of the material or its suitability for service. The technique can be applied on a sampling basis for individual investigation or may be used for 100 percent checking of material in a production quality contro... Mark Willcox and George Downes Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=1305 A welder conducts a GMAW fillet weld test. While patrolling a shop floor playing "parameter police," a welding inspector may commonly hear questions like "Why can't I run my machine above XXX wire feed speed?" or "XX volts?" Welding parameters aren't guidelines merely plucked out of thin air; they are developed and determined after much trial and error. By standardizing the welding procedures you use to manufacture your products, you'll have a model... Paul Cameron Tue, 11 Apr 2006 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=1108 Figure 1 Fatigue is the progressive formation and propagation of cracks in a metal subjected to repeated or alternating stresses (from cyclic loads or forces) not exceeding the material's static yield strength limit. The final failure occurs when the remaining section—the part of the whole section not yet affected by the progressing crack—is no longer able to withstand normal operating forces. Determining the Cause Generally, the fracture's appearance presents easi... Elia Levi, Contributing Writer Tue, 14 Jun 2005 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=603 A welder’s primary concern in any kind of work is ensuring his weld is sound. For this reason, it’s important for an inspector examining the weld to be able to spot a variety of weld discontinuities, including: Porosity. Incomplete fusion. Incomplete joint penetration. Unacceptable weld profiles. Cracking. The first step toward understanding weld discontinuities is to examine some welding terminology. Discontinuity is defined as an interruption of the typical struc... Tony Anderson, Contributing Writer Thu, 12 Jun 2003 12:00:00 AM CDT http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=492 Radiographic and ultrasonic weld inspection are the two most common nondestructive testing (NDT) methods used to detect discontinuities within the internal structure of welds. The obvious advantage of both of these testing methods is their ability to help establish the weld's internal integrity without destroying the welded component. Radiographic Testing Radiographic testing (RT) usually is suitable for testing welded joints that can be accessed from both sides, with the exception of ... Tony Anderson, Contributing Writer Thu, 14 Feb 2002 12:00:00 AM CST http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=334 Editor's Notes: In-service weld defects found in Australian refineries by an inspection team required assessment to determine the best course of action - repair, replace, or do nothing. This is the author's first-person account of the team's findings and solutions. The post-World War II period to the mid-1960s was the beginning of a building surge in major refining, petrochemical, and similar plants in Australia. While the welding quality in pressure equipment was excellent in... Roger Griffiths, Contributing Writer Thu, 12 Dec 2002 12:00:00 AM CST http://www.thefabricator.com/WeldingInspection/WeldingInspection_Article.cfm?ID=284 Leaders who oversee weld designs, materials, methods, personnel training, and manufacturing teams should ensure high-quality welding performance by addressing quality and testing in work contracts. Owners must understand what is needed to manage every quality system diligently if they are to achieve overall business objectives. Total quality systems and weld acceptance criteria must be specific—specified for each contract—and adherence must be enforced without wavering... Jesse A. Grantham, Ph.D., P.E., Contributing Writer Thu, 24 Oct 2002 12:00:00 AM CDT