Content tagged with "arc-welding"
Results: 71
Article
March 1, 2010
Heading off health hazards
Use caution when removing PPE or touching your face and eyes as these are the leading cause of foreign body eye injuries. Welding, cutting, and grinding processes hold many potential health hazards. The most notable of these are injuries that result from eye and face impacts, arc... Read more...
Article
February 9, 2010
Tons of reasons for a new welding positioner
Figure 1 The electric shovels P&H Mining manufactures, such as this one loading copper-bearing ore into a material hauler, can weigh up to 1,200 tons. The dippers on the largest trucks can gather up to 100 tons of material in one swoop. Photos courtesy of P&H Mining Equipment, Milwaukee.... Read more...
Article
November 24, 2009
Article
November 6, 2009
Welders to the rescue
In emergency situations such as fires, health crises, or automobile accidents, we depend on firefighters and rescue personnel to respond quickly and provide assistance. In turn, rescue personnel depend on their equipment to function properly in order to provide assistance to those in need.... Read more...
Article
September 29, 2009
Newbie mistakes made, experience gained
We all make mistakes. What's important is that we learn from them. However, some mistakes on a welding job can be disastrous and should be prevented at all costs. I speak from experience. I had been a maintenance and fabrication welder at a shop and black iron plant for a few years, but I... Read more...
Article
September 15, 2009
SMAW: A welder's guide
Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) is the most common form of arc welding. However, creating a good weld is not always easy, especially for a beginner. Unlike gas metal arc welding (GMAW), in which you basically point and shoot, SMAW requires a higher skill level and a mastery of certain... Read more...
Article
September 1, 2009
Article
August 1, 2009
Don't forget the fixturing
Specifying and purchasing a robotic welding system can be a confusing process requiring predictions about future volumes and types of jobs. Along the way, the robotic system manufacturer and the integrator, if you are working with one, will help specify the best system for your application.... Read more...
Article
July 28, 2009
Learn your trade, pay your dues
I've paid my dues during my long and crazy welding career. I've had good jobs and bad jobs, good bosses and bad bosses, and I've met good and bad people in the field. In my opinion, one good person makes up for a bunch of lousy people. Which do you want to be? Starting Out I began my... Read more...
Article
July 27, 2009
A streetcar to desire [again]
Bernie Bisnette stands next to his latest project, the No. 7005 of the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, originally built in 1927.
As the only metalworking restoration technician at the Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport, Maine, Bernie Bisnette likens his job to a case of... Read more...
Article
March 14, 2009
Focus, passion, integrity
The inaugural Be True to Your School contest brought Brennan Palmiter and his stock car to Lebanon, Mo. It's one thing to hear about the benefits of pursuing a career in welding and fabrication from somebody twice your age. It's another thing entirely to hear about it directly from one of... Read more...
Article
March 10, 2009
Think females can't weld? Think again
"Girls can't weld!" That's what one of my students nicknamed "Bucky" said many years ago as a lone female walked into my all-male welding shop. Seventeen guys and one gal, I can only imagine how she felt walking into that class. I had just completed a teaching internship at a trade school... Read more...
Article
January 15, 2009
Keeping welding costs from spiraling out of control
Figure 1
Skyline Steel’s Cartersville, Ga.-based facility has been making spiral pipe with the same mill equipment that was originally installed in 1992.
The large-diameter pipe used for the transmission of gas and oil traditionally has been made using either the longitudinal or... Read more...
Article
November 25, 2008
Do your welds pass muster?
When competing in a global economy, it pays to weld it right the first time.
Rework and scrap add significant cost to a manufacturer's balance sheet. Missed delivery dates increase customer dissatisfaction and defection. Poor weld quality may even cause a customer to carry excessive... Read more...
Article
November 11, 2008
GTAW common joint designs
Welding a T joint on aluminum, the welder demonstrates proper torch and filler metal positioning. Photo courtesy of Weldcraft. The three most common types of gas tungsten arc weld (GTAW) joints— butt, corner, and T (fillet)—each serves a particular function in product... Read more...
Article
October 28, 2008
TIG for titanium tubing
Titanium is 45 percent lighter than steel, 60 percent heavier than aluminum, and more than three times stronger than either of them. While it is much more expensive than many other metals, it has greater corrosion resistance, lower life-cycle costs, longer service life, and drastically lower... Read more...
Article
October 14, 2008
Eagles, dragons: Stainless steel takes on many forms
A few years ago Kevin Stone, a senior fabricator, decided to combine his years of welding experience with his innate artistic ability and began creating stainless steel sculptures on a large scale. While people make the pilgrimage to Stone's yard in Chilliwack, B.C., to see the "Power of... Read more...
Article
July 29, 2008
Submerged arc welding : then and now
Submerged arc welding (SAW) is so named because the weld and arc zone are submerged beneath a blanket of flux. The flux material becomes conductive when it is molten, creating a path for the current to pass between the electrode and the workpiece. The flux blanket prevents spatter and sparks,... Read more...
Article
July 29, 2008
Becoming the best danged welder on the block
In recent articles I've asked why in the heck you'd want to weld , and I've discussed what companies want from workers , so now I figure I'll discuss welding itself. I'm writing more for new welders, but it never hurts to hear this information again, even if you're an old hand.... Read more...
Article
July 29, 2008
20,000 welds under the sea
Globe-trotting to places like Rio and Curaçao sounds like an adventure out of a spy movie. It's actually just another day at work for the underwater welding pros at Miami Diver Inc., Miami. Miami Diver and its partners in the SubSea Solutions Alliance specialize in the underwater... Read more...
Article
June 17, 2008
Troubleshooting welding conductivity
Tight connections between the cables, feeder, power source, gun components, and the workpiece are essential to delivering a consistent current to the welding arc. Mechanical faults anywhere along the circuit can lead to resistance and poor welding performance. Electrical conductivity is at... Read more...
Article
May 27, 2008
Where is the welding management?
Management is best described by the functions it wields, including a certain list of activities for the purpose of achieving a goal. Industrial companies flourish or fail depending on the results of their management operations.
Companies with welding departments, big or small, should... Read more...
Article
May 13, 2008
See Brennan go
Most 16-year-old high school students are focused on getting their driver's licenses, planning for the next school dance, or gearing up for college entrance exams. In many ways Brennan Palmiter of Ormond Beach, Fla., is a typical 16-year-old, but instead of proms and football games, Palmiter... Read more...
Article
May 13, 2008
What do companies want from their workers?
As an author, my trademark is beginning my articles with something stupid I've done. Fortunately, or unfortunately I have a huge list to choose from, but I'm proud to say I at least have learned from a lot of 'em. One thing I tell my students is I'm not afraid to admit I make mistakes;... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Virtually welding
A virtual reality simulation of gas metal arc welding a fillet weld. A recent study led to an odd conclusion: Playing video games may produce better surgeons. Really, it's true, at least according to researchers at the Banner Health Center in Phoenix. They had surgical residents play... Read more...
Article
March 11, 2008
Learning TIG
Photo courtesy of The Lincoln Electric Company Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), which used to be called heliarc, is referred to by most welders in the shop and field as TIG. In the field, TIG applications include welding stainless in the food industry; stainless, aluminum, titanium, and... Read more...
Article
February 26, 2008
Go! Brennan
Brennan Palmiter and his stock car What moves faster than Brennan Palmiter's stock car? Palmiter himself—a young (16), motivated, bright, articulate, energetic dynamo who lives life to the fullest and wants to help other young people do the same. Palmiter, a Livingood Motorsports... Read more...
Article
February 12, 2008
GMAW 101: Setting the correct parameters
Good gas metal arc weld. Photo courtesy of Miller Electric Unless you weld for a living, it can be difficult to know if your gas metal arc welding machine is set up for optimal performance. Do you find yourself asking questions such as: Am I using the proper voltage? Do I have too much... Read more...
Article
January 15, 2008
Start with the basics: Understanding flux-cored wires
By arming yourself with some basic knowledge, you can choose and use flux-cored wires for your own welding applications confidently. Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) wires certainly aren't new, but like any part of the welding process, understanding them can be confusing—without the... Read more...
Article
January 15, 2008
Why in the heck would you want to weld?
In the high school welding classes I teach, I try to include craftsmen, college/trade school representatives, and military recruiters as guests. After the recruiters leave, I add a few things they always seem to leave out. Like how in the Army I never seemed to have hot water for showers,... Read more...
Article
December 11, 2007
These aren't your grandparents' wheelchairs
Although it's called "wheelchair rugby" or "quad rugby"—it's played by quadriplegic athletes in wheelchairs—neither term really captures the sport's speed or intensity as does its original name: murderball. Nor do the athletes fit the stereotypical image of quadriplegics, and... Read more...
Article
November 6, 2007
The whats, whys, and whens of GTAW
If you are among those who want to learn about welding just for fun, or if you are considering a new career, knowledge is always the key to success. Well, that and a little practice! Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is among the more difficult welding processes to learn, and just like... Read more...
Article
November 6, 2007
Holding up under 'pier' pressure
Nordcap began using steel to build its docks because the steel lasts longer than wood and it creates a minimal footprint on the bottom of the lake. The Lake of Bays and Muskoka Lake in Ontario, Canada, offer the perfect escape for those who wish to trade in the chaos of city life for the... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2007
Orbital welding of stainless steel pipe for water systems
This typical AWT skid shows orbitally welded stainless steel tubing mounted on a stainless frame. After being the industrial wing of a regional water treatment company for more than 15 years, American Water Technology Inc. (AWT), Redding, Calif., spun off as an independent company and... Read more...
Article
August 22, 2007
Great welds need the right gas
Often overlooked as a factor in weld quality, shielding gas can play a significant role in improving, or impeding, welding performance.
If you're reading this, you probably already know that shielding gas plays a critical role in achieving a strong, visually appealing gas metal arc... Read more...
Article
August 8, 2007
Ensure good feeding with FCAW electrodes
The FCAW process in the United States is currently estimated at more than 245 million pounds a year and still growing in popularity and use in all segments of the welding industry. One of the common issues often portrayed as a wire problem, commonly referred to as "birdnesting," is actually due... Read more...
Article
August 8, 2007
Analyze your arc welding cost
Typical graph showing estimated cost comparisons for proposed and existing welding methods Looking to purchase new arc welding power sources or robots in the near future? Need to justify your costs to get your budget approved? Read on to find out how to simply calculate return on investment... Read more...
Spanish
July 10, 2007
No hay nada más sano que una bocanada de aire fresco
La mayoría de los soldadores que usan poderosas herramientas y equipo comprenden los riesgos de seguridad asociados con éstos.
Algunos riesgos para la salud relacionados con soldar, especialmente con soldadura por arco, son obvios. Por ejemplo, usted sabe que no debe ver el arco, pero puede... Read more...
Article
July 10, 2007
Let 'er rip
WWU's Jake Parks drives the Viking 41 at the 2006 Mini Baja competition. Earning a reputation for innovation and quality is a difficult task. It is particularly difficult but equally impressive when this is achieved with a rotating group of students at a public university. That is exactly... Read more...
Article
July 10, 2007
Stuck on SMAW?
Whether you're a do-it-yourself welder who uses shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) only a few times a year or a professional welder who welds every day, one thing is certain: SMAW requires a lot of skill and electrode knowledge. Because variables such as storage techniques, electrode diameter,... Read more...
Article
July 10, 2007
Fabricator finds new opportunities in energy sector
Welding chrome-moly steel has strict requirements concerning the welding process, preheat temperatures, and postheat temperatures. The specifications provided by the engineers for the New Hope Power Partnership project required GTAW on the first three passes of the pipe. Founded in 1988 in... Read more...
Article
July 10, 2007
Article
July 10, 2007
Extreme weld makeover
Sfi, a large steel and aluminum fabricator with headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., and a second plant in Conway, Ark., manufactures industrial equipment components and subassemblies, from locomotive oil pans to crane outriggers, for large companies such as UPS, MTD, Caterpillar, FedEx,... Read more...
Article
May 22, 2007
Welding shop economics
Photo courtesy of Hobart Brothers.
Resource purchase price and utilization have an impact on welding shop economics. Both have real value, but the latter is by far a more practical concern.
The general work forces in today's factories and industries are considerably smaller, less... Read more...
Article
May 8, 2007
Arc Welding 101 - Paint tank troubles
I am building a 400-gallon paint tank and I'm having trouble with leaks when using gas metal arc welding (GMAW). I'm using a welding machine running on 440. My best results come when running hot 19.5 on the heat and about 21/2 on wire speed. I am using a trimix gas and 0.035-inch 308 wire.... Read more...
Article
May 8, 2007
Arc Welding 101
I am building a 400-gallon paint tank and I'm having trouble with leaks when using gas metal arc welding (GMAW). I'm using a welding machine running on 440. My best results come when running hot 19.5 on the heat and about 21/2 on wire speed. I am using a trimix gas and 0.035-inch 308 wire.... Read more...
Article
April 10, 2007
Pipe fabricator saves big time with big bends
A four-roll bender carries a higher price tag than most three-roll benders, but it might be the easiest to operate because the material fed into the machine is clamped during the squaring process and held during the entire rolling operation. Photo courtesy of Bertsch. Tom Mooney, the... Read more...
Article
November 7, 2006
Joining GMAW and GTAW
The American Welding Society has defined "hybrid welding" as the combination of two distinct welding energy sources within a single welding process.
Figure 1
A new hybrid welding approach combines a plasma arc and a GMAW arc into one process. These elements detail the process: (1)... Read more...
Article
September 12, 2006
Starting a portable GTAW business
Editor's Note: This is the last part of a four-part series on owning and operating a portable gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) business. Part I , which appeared in the July/August issue of Practical Welding Today, focused on equipment and self-evaluation; Part II addressed potential... Read more...
Article
September 12, 2006
Article
August 8, 2006
Starting a portable GTAW business Part III: Dos and Don'ts
Photo by Jason Gies, project engineer, Amer Industrial Technologies, Inc., 302-765-3900, www.amerindustrial.com. Editor's Note: This is the third part of a four-part series on owning and operating a portable gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) business. Part I , which appeared in the... Read more...
Article
July 11, 2006
Arc welding discontinuities
Common discontinuities include incomplete penetration, undercut, misalignment, and root undercut. Photo courtesy of AlcoTec Wire Corporation, Traverse City, MI. Quality by Design A weldment's service performance is determined largely at the design stage. This is the time to decide... Read more...
Article
July 11, 2006
Innovation rides the waves
U.S. Air Force security police use this response boat to conduct sea trials. Bellingham, Wash., has a long tradition of seafaring sailors and boat-builders. During the 1800s many full-rigged ships hauled lumber to places like California and Hawaii. During World War II wooden mine... Read more...
Article
July 11, 2006
Article
April 11, 2006
Magical, mystical metal
"Eagle" Sculpture by Richard Wilson. What adjectives would you use to describe metal? Shiny, strong, durable, impenetrable? How about magical and mystical? No? Talk to welder and artist Richard Wilson and you just might come away with a whole new perspective on metal. How Wilson... Read more...
Article
March 7, 2006
Editorial Advisory Board Roundtable
The FABRICATOR's Editorial Advisory Board gathered to discuss the current skill sets for fabricating and forming employees and which areas need improvement. When fabricators get busy, the cries for skilled labor grow louder. Unfortunately, many OEMs and job shops aren't having the best of... Read more...
Article
March 7, 2006
Head of her class
Jessica Jelinski practices her GTAW skills. Mike Tomsyck had a welding machine, a street rod to build, and one problem. He didn't know how to weld. So he called a friend, Paul Hart, for a recommendation. Hart, who works as an exceptional-education aide at Lincoln High School in... Read more...
Article
February 7, 2006
Hanging it up
Marty Rice observes as student Patrick Brown uses an oxyacetylene torch. Editor's Note: This is Marty Rice's last article for the thefabricator.com. No author who has contributed to this Web site has been more widely read or received more feedback than Marty. His articles have... Read more...
Article
January 10, 2006
Elements of success:
You may know that air and water are two of the four astrological elements, but you may not know just how much they can affect your welding performance.
Torches, cables, and cooling are three integral components in gas metal arc welding (GMAW) and gas tungsten arc welding... Read more...
Article
November 8, 2005
Getting the needed fixtures
Sitting on top of a modular fixturing table, a rock wheel frame attachment for a skid steer is finish-welded. Variety is the spice of life for Woods Equipment Co. The Oregon, Ill.-based company is a manufacturer of attachments and implements for agricultural tractors, skid steers,... Read more...
Article
February 8, 2005
10 frequently asked GTAW questions
Experienced welders know that without the right information, it's easy to sacrifice quality, lose time, and generally become frustrated with gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). And while there is merit in learning by trial and error, if you want to move toward precision GTAW, getting answers... Read more...
Article
July 13, 2004
MIG welding—The basics and then some
Photo courtesy of The Lincoln Electric Company. "You ran much MIG?" the foreman asked. "Yeah (I lied), quite a bit." Heck, I didn't even know what MIG was! I had been welding a couple of semesters at a vocational college and had gotten pretty good with stick welding. So Phil Newell, the... Read more...
Article
February 12, 2004
Documenting welds from an orbital welding power supply
Photo courtesy of The Murray Co. Mechanical Contractors, Rancho Dominguez, CA. However, in recent years the demand for logging of orbital weld records has increased dramatically, particularly in the biopharmaceutical industry, in which weld inspection and weld records are a significant... Read more...
Article
November 20, 2003
Article
August 28, 2003
Article
May 15, 2003
SMAW Basics—How much do you know?
Editor's Note: This article covers basic SMAW questions and answers. Preceding the SMAW section is the author's opinion about the importance of retaining federal funding for vocational programs. If you would like to express an opinion
about this topic, please feel free to do... Read more...
Article
September 26, 2002
Set loose the juice
Whether it means they're easier to use, more portable, or make welds more predictably, power sources are being updated, and electronics are playing a significant role in their modernization. "The current economy is forcing companies to re-evaluate the value of outsourcing components to... Read more...
Article
August 8, 2002
SMAW revisited—You can never know too much
Even with all the new welding technologies, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) still reigns as the most widely used welding process in the country. In the field, SMAW usually goes by the name of stick welding. My very nonmechanical brother once asked if I was doing SMAW when I used a "sparkler... Read more...
Article
February 19, 2002
How to Improve Your Welds: Helpful hints for GMAW
Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is a semiautomatic welding process that uses a wire electrode fed through a welding gun. This continuous wire feeding during welding frees up the welder and allows him or her to focus fully on the gun position so that the proper arc length is maintained. A typical... Read more...
Article
January 10, 2002
Selecting a GTAW power source
One of the benefits of gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is its ability to control amperage, or heat input, with a high degree of precision, especially when using it in mechanized applications. This article focuses on manual GTAW applications, although many of the factors discussed also... Read more...
Article
November 29, 2000
Advanced variable-polarity plasma arc welding
Automotive companies are struggling to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles capable of meeting new stringent corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) requirements. These environmentally friendly modes of transportation range from battery-powered to fuel cell and cleaner petroleum-burning vehicles.... Read more...
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