Do your welds pass muster?: Evaluating gas and equipment to deliver quality and performanceFor a job shop or manufacturer, maintaining weld quality begins with consistent shielding gas in the gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process. Consistently delivering the correct blend ensures proper arc characteristics and weld quality. Mixing technology, supply gas density, and gas usage patterns can affect the on-site gas blending system's ability to deliver a consistent blend.
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'Star Wars,' move over: Presenting ... the Job Shop Trilogy: Hybrid laser-arc welding, the latest in the series, features shielding gas as the supporting leadEvaluating the gas equipment you need to produce the shielding mixture you want for optimal laser hybrid welding is critical. Different shielding gases yield different results and should be considered carefully for your specific application.
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Combining 2-D and 3-D laser applications: Multiprocessing requires gas systems up to the challengeLaser equipment specialists claim that an operator now can change the head for cutting up to 3/4-inch mild steel to welding 3-D parts in less than 15 minutes. So the laser cutting/welding equipment has made a technological leap to support the job shops looking to expand their capabilities. But how have the gas systems evolved to support these advanced capabilities?
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Lasers move forward: Looking at the forces shaping today's laser systemsCO2lasers were used predominantly for cutting flat sheet metal for many years. Advancements in laser beam quality, power, manipulation, and material handling features have propelled the CO2laser into new areas of fabrication. Multidimensional cutting, increased cutting capacity, and the ability to cut a wider range of material types make the CO2laser a popular thermal cutting process in today's metal fabrication industry.
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Achieving efficiency with occasional high-pressure, high-flow nitrogen use: The economics of choosing the right mode for your laserSeveral modes of nitrogen assist gas supply exist, but with choice comes the potential of saddling your business with overhead costs that make it difficult to compete. The best approach is to map out a growth strategy, using each option's performance and value, that coincides with monthly nitrogen usage.
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