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Articles tagged with "current"

Results: 25

	What to know before selecting a manual plasma cutter: Understanding size, power, components, cost By: David Cook, Contributing Writer The first plasma arc cutting (PAC) systems, developed in the '60s, were 1,000-amp monsters designed to blast through 6-inch stainless steel. Publish date: July 26, 2001 Tech cell: Plasma Cutting
	Using plasma arc cutting to clean-cut stainless steel sheet and plate: Variables to consider By: Stephen St. Hilaire, Contributing Writer To clean-cut stainless steel sheet and plate, fabricators first must choose the right CNC cutting equipment and then set the correct process-related variables. Precise machine motion controls, torch-to-material distance control, and the correct plasma and assist gases all are crucial to producing weld-ready plasma-cut edges on all stainless steel thicknesses. Publish date: May 30, 2001 Tech cell: Plasma Cutting
	Roll out the shelving By: Don Dykstra, Contributing Writer Just as office managers look for the most efficient way to store files, shop managers must look for efficient ways to store heavy, expensive dies. Many offices have file cabinets with an index system for locating files quickly. The shop equivalent for storing and retrieving dies may be air-powered rollout shelf units. Publish date: August 28, 2003 Tech cell: Materials Handling
	Dressing for success and other welding safety tips By: Howard Cary, Contributing Writer Whether we are attending a social occasion or dressing for the job, we all give some thought about what we are going to wear. Publish date: May 30, 2001 Tech cell: Safety
	Employees value workplace health and wellness programs By: Vicki Bell, Web Content Manager Sixty percent of respondents to a recent survey consider health and wellness programs a viable incentive to stay at their current jobs. But it must be the right program, one that addresses the employees' concerns. Publish date: April 24, 2003 Tech cell: Safety
	Staying lean in a lean economy By: Gary Conner, Contributing Writer Slow times call for some desperate measures, but losing sight of a lean approach to manufacturing should not be one of them. Take an opportunity that slow times present to evaluate your business and take appropriate steps towards a lean operation. Publish date: June 18, 2002 Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis
	Meeting ISO 14001 requirements: Leveraging advanced forming lubricant technology By: Brad Jeffery, Contributing Writer As of July 2003 all 5,000-plus Ford Motor Company suppliers were required to be ISO 14001-certified. In 2002 General Motors required all of its suppliers to implement environmental management systems (EMS) that conform to ISO 14001. The trend will continue for the auto industry and others. Publish date: November 6, 2003 Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis
	Using NDT systems to monitor welded tube production: Two methods are better than one By: Donald N. Bugden, Christopher McAllister, Kris Whitmore, Greg Maurer, and Larry Wells, Contributing Writers This article discusses the capabilities and limitations of the two most common online tube monitoring test methods -- eddy current and ultrasonic. It discusses the types of flaws that each is capable of detecting, and shows photographs of three typical flaws -- one that was detected by ultrasonic, one by eddy current, and one by both. It concludes by showing that both methods should be used to provide the most comprehensive testing of welded tube. Publish date: November 15, 2001 Tech cell: Testing and Measuring
	Magnetic pulse welding for tubular applications: Discovering new technology for welding conductive materials By: Ben-Tzion Spitz and Victor Shribman, Contributing Writers A review of how magnetic pulse welding works, in what applications it can be used, and what considerations users must take to perform it properly. Publish date: July 26, 2001 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	Flying high with orbital welding: Equipment, applications, and joint designs for aerospace components By: Steve Purnell, Contributing Writer Orbital welding first was developed in the late 1960s by a group of engineers from McDonnell Douglas to join aerospace tubes. These engineers were aware of the problems associated with producing repeatable welds for their critical applications. Publish date: March 11, 2004 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	Do your tubes seam good enough? Using eddy current testing to make sure By: Tim Brown, Contributing Writer Eddy current testing offers several features that makers of welded tube may find to their liking—in particular, high throughput speeds and sensitive flaw detection. Publish date: August 16, 2001 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Production
	Welding aluminum with inverter-based power supplies By: Frank Armao, Contributing Writer It's easy to look at such a long-established technology as welding and believe that little or no technology development is taking place. In truth, however, the capabilities of welding power supplies are changing constantly and rapidly, especially in the area of inverter technology. These power supplies are suitable for welding aluminum alloys, including thin aluminum alloys. Publish date: July 24, 2003 Tech cell: Aluminum Welding
	Choosing a GMAW machine for occasional aluminum welding By: Frank Armao, Contributing Writer Publish date: September 25, 2003 Tech cell: Aluminum Welding
	Advantages of plasma welding: Often-overlooked PAW offers speed and affordability By: Randy Dull, Contributing Writer Plasma arc welding sometimes offers greater welding speed than gas tungsten arc welding at lower cost than laser beam welding. Publish date: February 19, 2001 Tech cell: Arc Welding
	Gun Control: GTAW torch design innovations enhance productivity, quality By: Harshad Shah, Contributing Writer This article discusses improvements to the GTAW torch that should enhance the productivity and quality of welding operations. It specifically discusses the welding gun's affect on ergonomics and cooling capacity. Publish date: November 15, 2001 Tech cell: Arc Welding
	Remote GTAW of spent fuel canisters: How this process reduces operator exposure to radiation By: Mike Petersen, Contributing Writer This off-the-beaten-path article defines a remote GTAW process that allows weld operators to minimize their exposure to radiation when welding spent fuel canisters used to contain nuclear fuel. Publish date: October 11, 2001 Tech cell: Arc Welding
	Examining the GTAW environment: Choosing the right electrode and booth for your application By: Richard Mann, Contributing Writer The author outlines basic components of a welding booth suitable for GTAW, and offers possible solutions to a decline in availability of the thoriated tungsten used in a GTAW electrode. He also offers ideas for providing a clean air supply for the GTAW operator. Publish date: July 12, 2001 Tech cell: Arc Welding
	Joining aluminum with GTAW: Advice for the novice By: Mike Sammons, Contributing Writer Aluminum is a real challenge to weld, especially for beginners. A knowledge of the gas tungsten arc welding equipment that is available to do the job as well as required accessories, preparation tips, and proper techniques is a good thing to have before jumping in. Publish date: February 19, 2001 Tech cell: Arc Welding
	The fundamentals of gas tungsten arc welding: Preparation, consumables, and equipment necessary for the process By: Larry D. Smith, Contributing Writer Learning the fundamentals of the GTAW process will increase the welder's ability to produce quality weldments. Knowing the correct consumables, equipment, and preweld preparation necessary will help the welder troubleshoot welding problems. Publish date: February 19, 2001 Tech cell: Arc Welding
	Getting the best results in gas-shielded FCAW: Filler metals play a crucial role in the process By: Tex Ikeda and David Haynie, Contributing Writers Publish date: December 11, 2003 Tech cell: Arc Welding
	Robotic arc welding gets smart in real time: Immediacy of information can benefit shop floors By: Tim Nacey, Contributing Writer Whether you're dealing with low part counts or wild welding variables or the challenges of just-in-time production, monitoring software can help smooth your operation. Publish date: September 4, 2001 Tech cell: Automation and Robotics
	Automated welding for job shops By: Bruce McHaney, Contributing Writer A robotic weldingsystem represents a significant capital investment for a job shop. Publish date: July 12, 2001 Tech cell: Automation and Robotics
	Robots and dials and knobs—oh my!: GMAW power sources have evolved over time By: George J. Williams, Contributing Writer In the late 1950s, the U.S. Navy wanted to find a way to join heavy aluminum structural sections used to fabricate motor torpedo boat hulls. Publish date: May 29, 2003 Tech cell: Automation and Robotics
	Selecting the right tungsten: How your choice affects AC GTAW By: Brent Williams, Contributing Writer Most welders used to agree that a pure tungsten electrode was crucial to obtaining the best results for gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) aluminum, magnesium, and other alloys that required an AC arc. Publish date: February 26, 2004 Tech cell: Consumables
	Cutting through five myths about modern lasers: The truth behind laser cutting technology By: Dan Robinson, Contributing Writer Whether you're operating a 10-year-old laser machine or evaluating the purchase of a new one, staying up-to-date on current laser cutting technology and techniques can be the key to maintaining a competitive edge. Publish date: February 12, 2004 Tech cell: Laser Cutting