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Articles tagged with "safety"
Results: 132
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Improving manual plasma cutting quality: Get more life; fast, clean cutsSome tips and suggestions for best practices that will increase your efficiency and precision and prolong the life of your plasma cutter and consumables include: Take the time to read the manual thoroughly; develop a "preflight routine" visually follow the arc that is coming from the bottom of the cut—the arc should exit the material at a 15- to 20-degree angle opposite the direction of travel; and maintain a 1/16- to 1/8-inch distance between the tip and the workpiece.
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Mejorando la Calidad del Corte Manual por Plasma: Obtenga más vida; cortes rápidos y limpiosSiga estos consejos y sugerencias para mejores prcticas en el corte por plasma, y vea los resultados: mayor eficiencia y precisin y una vida ms larga del cortador por plasma y de los consumibles.
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Analyzing shear features: Basic knowledge can impact productivity, safetyUnderstanding shears is a matter of understanding shear features, including design and drive systems. This article offers information about evaluating shears and includes a list of 20 enhancements and explains each of them.
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8 ways to keep your shear in top shapeImproving uptime and reducing maintenance when using shears for high production could mean following a few key steps.
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Advancements in waterjet technologyWhen Jack Budd, president of Precision Waterjet, Orange, Calif., purchased his first waterjet system seven years ago, he expected most of the company's work to come from the aerospace industry, which was robust at the time. When business from that industry tapered off, he searched for new customers in the architectural, signage, and automotive aftermarket industries.
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More than just southern hospitality: People-focused culture is the foundation for success at Plymouth Tube’s Eupora plantTPJ's 2009 Industry Award Winner: Plymouth Tube Co.
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Making the most of hydroforming: Pursuing product potential and possibilitiesHydroforming has become a competitive metal forming method and has succeeded in many applications because of its weight- and cost-saving attributes, elimination of joining operations, and ability to offer part design for confined spaces.
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Don't get stuck: Choosing the right magnetic conveying systemMagnetic soft-belt conveyors can feed presses and transport parts from one workstation to another or from production to inspection, storage, or packaging operations. If you work with ferrous metal coils or sheets, a magnetic system may help improve plant efficiency, safety and reduce costs.
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Interaction of chemicals used in forming and fabricatingKnowing how chemicals tend to react with one another and how each type of lubricant and coolant commonly used during steel processing tends to behave is a boon when you're trying to fabricate products properly.
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What the well-dressed welder is wearing: How to protect yourself from head to toeDressing properly for welding involves many facets of safety, including proper use of personal protective equipment and welding tools as well as protective apparel. Welders should be aware of the hazards they will face on their job and know to dress for them so they can protect themselves from all possible potential welding dangers, from sparks and spatter to fumes and electrocution.
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Welder, beware: When, why, and how fires and explosions occurThis article provides some statistical analysis, causes for, and tips to consider regarding welding and cutting fire and explosions. It includes a sidebar about governing codes and questions to ask regarding fires and explosions when welding or cutting is suspected in an incident.
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Designing a safe, highly productive system: Tips for workplace wellnessThe best way to make sure that machine operators can do their jobs effectively with proper safeguarding is to desgin machine systems around those safety devices in the first place.
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Thermal spray safety and OSHA compliance: Protecting operators from ultraviolet light, fumes, dust, compressed air, gasesOSHA has regulations for both facets of thermal spray environment, and shops should be aware of some practical safety tips for how to comply with those regulations.
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Rejoice with the right respirator: How your workplace conditions, process affect your choiceSelecting the right respirator for a welder involves examining the processes used, the workplace environment, and the types of base metal and consumables used. This article offers tips for finding the right respirator for your application, preferences, and workplace.
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Taking another look at SMAW safetyIt's never a good time to forget about safety. Take it from a guy who knows.
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Saving face: What to look for in safety eyewear and facial protectionAccording to OSHA, it is estimated that 9 out of 10 occupational related eye injuries could be avoided through the use of proper safety equipment. OSHA's 1910.133 places the responsibility for eye safety squarely on the shoulders of the employer. Goggles, spectacles and face shields protect the eyes and face from impact from flying particles, hot sparks, liquid chemicals and vapors. In addition, protective eyewear constructed with special shaded lenses rated from 1-15 offer protection against injurious light radiation and glare.
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Welding specialty metals safely: Taking a three-tiered approach to safetyThis article outlines dangers of fume exposure to welders using exotic or specialty metals. The author offers a three-tiered approach to protecting the welder from fumes.
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Breathing easier: Air cleaners designed to keep welders safer, OSHA happyWelding smoke and fumes can be dangerous, but there are several types of equipment designed to clean the air welders breathe. Capturing airborne pollutants at the welding source is the most effective technique available. Common designs include source capture arms, portable source capture air cleaners, downdraft or sidedraft tables, and smoke extraction systems. Other air purification devices include ambiant air capture systems and breathing masks and respirators.
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Safety with press hydraulic systems: Preparing for and handling hydraulic fluid spillsWhat happens when a hydraulic system—pumps, hoses, and fittings—fails—Knowing how to avoid, cope with and clean up the mess to ensure personnel safety and minimize downtime could come in very handy one day.
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Evaluating the Danger of Loud Noises in Tube and Pipe Shops: How OSHA's Rules Protect Your EmployeesIn work environments that generate noise that exceed 85 dB or with impact noises exceeding 140dB, such as found in tube and pipe, OSHA requires a hearing conservation program.
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How to avoid getting burned by hot work: Preventing losses and insuring safetyMaintaining a safe work environment in facilities in which hot work, such as welding, is done can be easier said than done. Measures such as preventive safety, safety zones, and fire watches can keep employees safe and worker's comp time down
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Safety Fundementals for Today's Industrial Lasers: As Laser Use Increases, So Does the Importance of SafetyAddressing laser beam hazards, safety regulations for laser use, and methods to improve laser safety should be foremost in the mind of every laser machine operator.
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Keeping an eye on safety: how to protect welders from eye injuries: How to protect welders from eye injuriesUsing orbital welding equipment led to productivity gains in one of the nation's first fusion-welded underground pipelines.
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I CAN'T HEAR YOU!Editor's Note: This article is based on the 1998 Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Noise Exposurepublished by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
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Stamp of Approval: Full-court press safety: How to maintain an effective safety program end to endIf you want a safe press operation, look beyond the machinery. Don't be surprised to find the keys to a good safety program well outside the confines of the pressroom.
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Assessing cutting and forming machine tool safetyThe expanded breadth of recent standards typically includes the entire life expectancy of machines, the full scope of possible risks, the frequency and severity of risks, and the possibility of harm.
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Common threads in workplace safety: How different committees work to ensure the health and safety of their workersAlthough various safety committees differ somewhat from plan to plan, they all function as a means to promote workplace health and safety. Different components of a safety plan include responsibilities, activities, and the structure of each company's committee.
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Proper guarding protects workers: Six steps to focusing on your employees' needsWhen people think of machine guarding, usually they think of devices to protect people from the moving parts on machinery.
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Protecting your eyes in industrial environments: Safety spectacle features and optionsThis article reviews the OSHA and ANSI standards for using safety spectacles in the workplace, describes scratch-resistance and anti-fog coatings, describes safety spectacle protection from ultraviolet and infrared radiation, and provides tips for choosing and using safety glasses.
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Staying safe during HF welding: A common sense approach to personnel protectionProper clothing, training, procedures, troubleshooting, preparation, and equipment for HF welding are critical if you want to prevent workplace accidents.
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Dressing for success and other welding safety tipsWhether we are attending a social occasion or dressing for the job, we all give some thought about what we are going to wear.
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Escape the 'Silent Killer': How proper protection can help prevent respiratory diseaseIt was just a 20-minute welding job in a basement boiler-room, but it left the plumber feeling lightheaded and nauseated and gave him a headache that lasted until the next morning.
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Substance abuse in the workplace—Part 1 |
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Your best safety resource: The FMA/CNA Safety CommitteeDo you know the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International™ (FMA)/CNA Safety Committee? If not, you should. They're an excellent resource for guidance on workplace safety issues. And they're the force behind the safety focus on thefabricator.com.
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Making the workplace safe for Spanish-speaking employeesModifying your safety program to address the needs of your Spanish-speaking employees can create a much safer work environment. Here's how one company achieved that goal.
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Six dangerous misconceptions about crane safety: Knowing the facts could save your lifeKnowing how cranes should be used, and how they should not be used, is critical to crane safety. Overload, side pull, limit switches, secondary braking devices, using the reverse direction for speed control, and daily inspections are surrounded by myth and mystery in the workplace.
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Workplace stress—Part 1Stress is a fact of life. It's here to stay, and even if we could abolish it, we wouldn't want to. At its best, stress can be the catalyst that moves us to make changes and achieve great things in life. At its worst, it can create all kinds of emotional and physical problems. What determines whether stress is a friend or foe? Whether it precipitates changes that improve our lives or whether it greatly diminishes the quality of our lives? One determining factor is how we handle or manage stress. We can be our own best friend or our own worst enemy.
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Workplace stress—Part 2If you've visited a doctor recently and were told that stress is the cause of or a contributing factor to what ails you, you're not alone. Although you can't expect to eliminate all of the stress in your life, you can learn to manage it and reduce its negative effects.
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Safety pays |
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Exposure to metalworking fluidsIn 1993, the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) petitioned the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to take emergency regulatory action to protect workers from the risks of occupational cancers and respiratory illnesses due to exposure to metalworking fluids (MWFs). Bureaucratic wheels turn slowly.
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Protecting yourself from gases and fumes: 10 tips for healthier lungsWelding gases, fumes, and smoke can cause both short-term and long-term health hazards for welders. Presented here are 10 ways to help ensure welders are kept safe.
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Selecting the best lens for welders' eye protectionIn the industrial environment, safety glasses are a necessity for jobs that put employees' eyes at risk of exposure to heat, impact, chemicals, or dust. But workers also need protection from nonimpact dangers, such as radiant energy, eye strain, and fatigue. So choosing the appropriate lens or filter plate for your workers' eye protection is just as important in preventing eye injury as is selecting the appropriate style of safety eyewear.
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Promoting back safety—one company's approach |
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Take control of safetyWelders are among the millions of workers who face respiratory hazards every day in the workplace. Confined spaces, solvents, and gas emissions, as well as welding, grinding, and soldering, may expose workers to airborne hazards.
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Material handling safetyHandling material is a daily function in the workplace. All too often it is a task taken for granted, with little knowledge of or attention to the consequences if done incorrectly. Management and employees need to look at and evaluate how material goods are handled inside and outside their facilities. Whether the operation involves delivering or receiving material, an area should be designated for that purpose.
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Having a safe office party |
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Resolve to have a healthy, injury-free 2004The beginning of a new year is a good time to think about what's important in life and what changes you can make to benefit yourself and those around you. Safety practices and good health should be on everyone's priority lists. Adopting certain behaviors will help optimize your health, ensure your safety in the workplace and elsewhere, and make your corner of the world better for everyone.
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Emergency preparedness: A critical safety program componentYou're at work and a fire alarm or other emergency warning device sounds. Do you know what to do? Where to go and the appropriate route to get there?
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Welding fume health hazardsAccording to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), more than 400,000 U.S. men and women are employed in welding and related occupations. Some studies suggest that these workers are at risk of serious respiratory, neurological, and reproductive effects. More and better data is needed to assess the risks.
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Obesity—a problem for workers and employers |
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Personality + Protection: Manufacturers say welders look for safety, character in helmetsBeing expected to wear more than one hat at work these days is commonplace??but not more than one welding helmet.
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Machine-guarding problems—one company's solution |
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Working safely in busy times |
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Safeguarding machines with an ergonomic spin: The importance of human factors in indstrial safety standardsHuman factors contain elements of psychology, engineering, statistics, and observation. Safety codes and standards often are written based on some aspect of human factors, and it may be critical to have a full understanding of the human factors behind the code or standard before applying the same concept to other equipment.
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Safety makes good business sense: How business owners can improve safety and the bottom line |
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In-running nip point hazards: Recognizing the danger and preventing injury |
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Preventing welding-related fires: You can’t be too carefulBefore welding, professional and hobbyist welders must be knowledgeable about potential fire hazards and safe practices. They also must examine the work area and adjacent areas, welding equipment, and consumables for hazards and take appropriate measures to ensure safety.
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Welding hazards affect nonwelders too: Keeping all workers safeAlthough a fully clad welder can appear somewhat overdressed, each piece of protective clothing is necessary to ensure personal safety. Welders who shun safety equipment often have scars or health problems as reminders of shortcuts they took.
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Does any welding shield manufacturer make a hood with earmuffs?Does any welding shield manufacturer make a hood with earmuffs? The reason I ask is that I wear hearing aids. I teach welding and it's too hard to keep removing the hearing aids.
- K. Stevens |
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Can you give me some direction for finding information about developing and implementing a Safety/Loss Control program for my company?I have recently been appointed as the Safety Director for my company. I have no formal training in occupational safety. Can you give me some direction for finding information about developing and implementing a Safety/Loss Control program for my company?
- M. Lloyd |
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Pay Attention! To safety: How to eliminate boredom in safety trainingBoredom may not appear to be a significant obstacle to a safe workplace, but the problem is that boredom usually translates into poor retention and learning. Workers who are bored by the safety training programs don't learn as well as those who find their training programs interesting and exciting. Failure to retain safety education material can make all the difference on the shop floor or out at the job site.
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Safety faux pas |
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Addressing behavior-based safety issuesEditor's Note: A version of this article previously appeared in the Jan./Feb. issue of Connections, FMA's member newsletter. |
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Electrical safety practices save lives |
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Changing workplace raises safety and health questionsThe current economy has altered the organization of work. This article discusses the changes and their impact on the work force in terms of job safety and health.
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Safety BingoAn effective safety awareness program keeps safety uppermost in employees' minds, reduces accidents, and has a positive impact on the bottom line. This article describes one company's program that's both effective and fun. It might be just what you need to help improve your company's safety record and bottom line
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Don't fall down on the job: Requirements of a fall protection work planCompanies should develop a written fall protection plan and maintain it on the job site. The plan must describe how your company will protect workers on a given work site when employees are working 10 feet or more above the ground, other work surfaces, or water.
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Machine safeguarding with optoelectronic sensors: How to choose the most appropriate equipmentOptoelectronic sensing devices safeguard machine access and prevent injuries related to hazardous machine motion. The ultimate goals are to prevent access to the hazard, eliminate the hazard before access is attained, and prevent the unintended operation of a machine.
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Emergency response—A critical component of workplace safetyAccidents and injuries can occur in all workplaces. Having a well-thought-out emergency response plan and properly organized and trained team can help minimize trauma and damage. This article discusses one company's emergency response program and gives an example of its effectiveness.
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OSHA's new hexavalent chromium standard: What it means to you and your employeesChanges are necessary to make sure your welding operation is compliant with OSHA's new permissible exposure limit for hexavalent chromium.
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Stop pickin' up bad vibrationsHand-arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS), vibration white-finger, and carpal tunnel syndrome are all side effects of vibration overexposure, which can occur through using grinders often. Find out how to prevent these effects and reduce your overexposure to vibrations from using grinders and other power tools.
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Saving money by spending on safety: Machine guarding expenses pay offAlthough the upfront costs of installing machine safeguards can be expensive, it is far more expensive to put your company at risk for employee injury and the resulting medical expenses, lost production, fines, and lawsuits.
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Control risk with lockout/tagout: How to perform equipment maintenance safelyLock-out/tag-out procedures are critical when you're dealing with equipment or machines powered by electricity, steam, hydraulics, gas, compressed air, or a combination of sources.
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Keep on truckin': Operating and maintaining a forklift truck safelyLack of safe operating procedures and safety rule enforcement, as well as insufficient or inadequate training, lead to tens of thousands of injuries each year. Safe forklift practices through proper use, adequate maintenance, sufficient clearing for travel, and correct load stability are the best way to prevent these injuries.
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How Safely Do You Weld?: 6 safety hazards to consider when weldingBy addressing six common hazards, companies that perform pipe and tube welding can provide a safe and healthy work environment for their employees.
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Fuel your safety knowledge: Use old, new rules with oxyfuelThe subject of oxyfuel safety is vast and would take volumes to cover completely. In fact, most large companies involved in oxyfuel cutting and welding publish their own procedural guidelines for employees to follow.
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Benefits of autodarkening helmets come to light: Personal safety equipment makes a difference in welding efficiencyAutodarkening technology has established a firm place in the welding industry not only as a piece of equipment that provides excellent protection, but also as a means to improve welding performance.
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Locking in safety: Understanding and implementing OSHA-approved safety measuresAssessing the work environment, creating programs, and training staff to abide by those programs are the keys to maintaining a safe work environment and avoiding steep fines, worker injury, or death.
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It's the small things: Addressing areas that might be overlooked in safety programsMany times industrial safety programs focus solely on safe equipment operation and other obvious hazards while ignoring simpler concerns. Addressing these concerns can make an important difference in worker safety, morale, and productivity. This article provides examples of common concerns and how you might address them.
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Why doesn't my fume extraction work? |
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Welding helmets in view: Five welding helmets, five sets of capabilitiesWelders looking for welding helmets have a lot of options to choose from. With everything that is available, it is important for welders to be informed of the protection levels of each helmet as well as the features each provide in order to find the right helmet for the job.
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Predicting and preventing workplace accidentsCan workplace accidents be predicted and prevented? Aeroglide safety professional Kelly Langdon believes it's not only possible, but that doing so is critical for a company's success. In this article, Langdon explains the three-step process he uses to ensure his company's employees' well-being.
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What not to leave at workThe metal fabricating industry is among the employment sectors with the highest rates of amputations from on-the-job accidents. Many are caused by improperly safeguarded machinery, hand tools, forklifts, and other equipment. Preventing workplace amputations requires adhering to strict safety guidelines, including making amputation awareness a part of your safety program.
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Preventing torch fires in welding and cutting operations: Following five safety tips can reduce hot-work dangersWelding and cutting, which accounts for 1 percent of structure fires and 4 percent of nonhousehold property damage, is the most dangerous type of hot work, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Companies that weld and cut should take specific steps to increase safety and minimize the risk of torch fires. Hot work, by its nature, has a lot of hazards. Companies and their hot-work operators can protect their safety and their facilities by keeping combustibles away from welding and cutting operations; using new safety features; staying aware of conditions; and knowing and following instructions provided on the precautionary labels and in OSHA, ANSI, and NFPA standards.
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Building relationships, ensuring safetySafety should be a business priority beginning with the employee hiring process. Once you have hired the right people, you can ensure the success of your safety program by building relationships, giving employees' safety concerns the attention they deserve, and resolving issues in a timely manner.
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Steady as she goes: Stability, visibility crucial in preventing industrial truck overturns, collisionsAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in the U.S. nearly 100 workers are killed and another 20,000 are seriously injured annually in forklift-related incidents. Knowing how they occur and studying the events that lead up to them can go a long way in preventing typical accidents.
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Venting on the subject of clean shop air: If your company plasma or laser cuts, take a long, hard look at its ventilation practicesA shop owner should want the best ventilating technology for its thermal cutting operations. It keeps employees safe and protects the company from potential liability situations. With that in mind, the feature poses five questions that every shop should ask itself about its ventilating efforts as it regards thermal cutting operations.
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Love your gloves: Everything you wanted to know (but never asked) about welding glovesPulling on a pair of welding gloves, for manywelders, is like second nature. What may notbe second nature, however, is choosing theright glove to fit your needs of protection,comfort, and dexterity. Just as weldingprocesses differ, so do the gloves that arebest-suited for those processes.
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Surviving an OSHA inspection: What to do if an investigator shows up on your doorstepWeathering an inspection by OSHA is a matter of knowing your operation from top to bottom and being prepared for a visit at all times.
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What price workers' compensation insurance?It's a Catch-22 for many manufacturers. Not having workers' compensation insurance can put them out of business. Paying for workers' compensation insurance can put them out of business. How is a company to survive?
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Workers' compensation—Managing the process |
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Slash maintenance inventory costs: Five steps for managing MRO partsThe quickest boost for most organizations' bottom line is finding opportunities for decreasing costs without sacrificing quality. An area frequently overlooked is the inventory of parts kept for maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO).
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Dealing with worker injuries: A different perspectiveThis perception that keeping an employee working increases the probability that the employee will return to full duty quickly leads to some really creative efforts that focus on keeping the employee at work and keeping the numbers low.
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Providing a comfortable, safe environment for workers with disabilities |
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Creating a pressroom preventive maintenance program: A step-by-step guideA press maintenance program should be designed to minimize downtime, enhance machinery output, and establish a formal record keeping system for ongoing inspections.
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Shake, rattle, and the toll: Angle grinder improvements promote ease of use, safetyOperating an angle grinder is a tough job. Find out what angle grinder manufacturers are doing to make the tools more user- friendly, including lightening the weight, enhancing antivibration measures, and improving safety.
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Getting the SPA treatment: Using safety and performance audits to improve gas welding and fabricatingArray
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Installing and maintaining coil cradles and reelsThe installation procedures that can help to prolong the life of coil cradles and reels are outlined in this article. Specific steps to maintain cradles and reels are also included.
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The basics of uncoiling: A review of standard equipmentA review of the basic components of a coil handling system which covers servo drive roll feeds, cradles and reels, straighteners and combination units.
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New handling instructions: Weiss-Aug. Co. Inc. reorganizes its stamping operations, takes on a new approach to coil handlingIn 2005 precision stamper Weiss-Aug of East Hanover, N.J., achieved a reject rate of less than 1 part per million. The company credits the success to meticulous planning and almost flawless execution. Such an approach applies for Weiss-Aug even when it comes to uncoiling metal.
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Maximizing a coil fed press: Variables that influence production speed, setupCoil-fed stamping presses are nothing new, but coil feeding processes have changed a lot since the days when press feeders were driven mechanically by crank motion. Influencing these processes are differences between transfer and progressive tooling.
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Appliancemaker reduces downtime with stamping press feed system: Inconsistent feeds caused die jams, inconsistent partsThe Whirlpool Co. builds refrigerators at its facility in Fort Smith, Ark. The company stamps the appliance parts—large and small, galvanized, cold-rolled, and aluminum—on approximately 35 presses. The majority of its stamping presses are straight-side machines, although some are open-back inclinable (OBI), and a few are hydraulic.
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Exploring upgrades in stamping presses: The top 10 improvements in the past 50 yearsThe years have brought a host of improvements to stamping presses as technology has made presses more efficient, safer, and easier to use.
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Hydraulic workholding from scratch: How to select and set up componentsHydraulic clamps are used in place of manual or toggle clamps to hold the workpiece or tool in place during stamping. This article examines the four steps that comprise the selection and installation of a hydraulic workholding system: cylinder selection, cylinder force and stroke, power source selection, and system connection.
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Taking the heat, keeping the current: Heat sinks provide thermal conductivity, electrical isolation |
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Virtual tryout: Simulation software simplifies progressive die troubleshooting |
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Stamping 101: Chicago-area training facility offers a hands-on educationTo promote real-world stamping training, the Tooling & Manufacturing Association (TMA) wanted to create a resource whereby stampers could receive a consistent, recognized, hands-on education on the industry's most current equipment.
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Protecting metal stamping dies: How to prevent die crashes with sensorsOne of the most difficult problems to overcome in any die protection application is protecting the components from the environment in which they must function. In a typical stamping application, oils, coolants, and other liquids and lubricants often are present that can wreak havoc on components.
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Hitting pay dirt -- in pipe: Pipe fabrication, repair companies meet needs in CanadaFabricating and repairing pipe in the oil-rich tar sands of Alberta, Canada, is an enormous, ongoing project that requires specialized equipment to meet a variety of challenges. John Page is a consultant in Canada who has been working on several of these projects and has learned what's needed to get the jobs done.
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Fabricator finds tubular niche: Job shop uses laser cutting to complement CNC machiningProduction Cutting Services was founded in 1985 as a machine shop to supply parts to agricultural equipment manufacturers in and around East Moline, Ill. It used saws and CNC machining centers to provide tubular parts, but later realized it needed to add more value. It purchased two lasers from Mazak Optonics Corp. It hasn't abandoned CNC machining, though. It uses the lasers to complement its other processes.
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Safeguarding tube benders with laser scanners: Noncontact, minimal-interference method ideal for large, irregularly shaped areasTube benders require safeguarding around the perimeter of the machine and area in front of the machine, where the tube is bent, and in the back where the tube is fed. Laser scanning devices offers several advantageous features. Because laser scanning is a noncontact method, it minimizes interference with the machine operation, and because the scanner mounts at the foot of the machine and out of the way of the tube bending action, it allows full access to the work area.
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Maintaining and troubleshooting HF welders: A common-sense approach for vacuum tube and solid-state machinesThe basic steps of general preventive maintenance and troubleshooting for both vacuum tube and solid-state high frequency (HF) welders should assist in keeping welders online and producing pipe or tube.
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Sensors in the welding environment: Which ones are tough enough for the job?From weld resistance to factor 1, sensors employ technology to deliver accurate, long-lasting operation, even in challenging welding environments. When properly applied, these systems reduce downtime and replacement costs while optimizing production.
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Sensors in the welding environment - Which ones are tough enough for the job?From weld resistance to factor 1, sensors employ technology to deliver accurate, long-lasting operation, even in challenging welding environments. When properly applied, these systems reduce downtime and replacement costs while optimizing production.
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Al GMAW: CC or CV?For about 40 years, a great debate in welding is whether to use constant-current or constant-voltage power supplies when using gas metal arc welding on aluminum. Constant-current power supplies made sense 30 years ago and are still used in some applications today, but for most applications, constant-voltage power supplies are suitable for gas metal arc welding aluminum.
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MIG welding tips and resources |
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Drive fast, weld right: Motorsports fabricators use more than tools to build topnotch race carsOf all the fabrication tools necessary to build -- and repair -- race cars, welding equipment is one of the most essential. To keep a race car together, safe for drivers, and at its competitive best, welding and metallurgy come into play every day in the motorsports industry.
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No hay nada más sano que una bocanada de aire fresco: Cómo controlar los riesgos para la salud por vapores de soldaduraAlgunos riesgos para la salud relacionados con soldar, especialmente la soldadura por arco, son obvios. Por ejemplo, un soldador sabe que no debe ver el arco. Este artculo ayudar a los soldadores a reconocer y a controlar los riesgos para la salud relacionados con los vapores de soldadura.
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Loading up on quality, productivity, safety: Skid steer manufacturer uses welding robots to meet customer requirements |
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Playing it safe with robotic welding: How machine-safeguarding equipment can protect robots and operators |
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Optimizing flow through robotic welding workcells: A 'Case' Study RevisitedRobotic welding systems can enhance a company's production and bottom line. However, using these systems requires careful thought and planning, building the right infrastructure, and achieving the right balance between robotic and manual operations. This article presents an overview of one company's successful implementation of robotic welding.
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Making the most of the daily grind: How to choose and use abrasives for welding and fabricating applicationsThe article divides grinding equipment into three application categories: welding/heavy metal removal; metal fabrication and construction; and light metal removal, finishing, and sharpening. It also discusses grits and grains and operator safety.
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Don't be a hot dog with heating heads: Tips for safe useSome call them rosebuds, others call them multiflame heating heads, and a few call them heat sticks. No matter what you call torch attachments, this article is a frank discussion about these tools that use oxygen and a fuel gas to make a lot of heat quickly. When used properly, they can make quick work of many heating jobs.
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Four factors to consider when purchasing a grinder: You get what you pay forCost often is a deciding factor when you purchase a grinder. However, the saying "you get what you pay for" can be true when you're talking about tools. The price tag alone doesn't always reflect some of the more important factors--performance level, cost to operate, and tool life--that make a grinder worth its cost.
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Three optional techniques for beveling: Understanding the advantages and drawbacks of eachMany fabricators use standard plasma cutters and abrasives to create beveled edges. Along with these traditional methods, welders also have the option of using three alternative beveling techniques: punch and nibble, peeling and shearing, and milling and routing. Each has advantages and drawbacks.
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Keys to success in laser welding: What every laser user needs to knowAlthough a firm grasp of laser physics, metallurgy, tooling and fixturing, weld process parameters, and part strength testing is necessary to implement laser technology in any manufacturing facility, it's also critical to think of other issues that will impact the success of your laser use. Some keys to a successful laser project include involving production personnel early in the process, choosing a laser technology advocate, considering your shop's ambient environment, using trained operators and maintenance personnel, and planning for spare parts and maintenance.
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Brake Line: Press Brakes and More: Planning to cut corners on safety?Press brake safety is a common sense issue.
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The Brakes: Press Brakes and You -- Whose business is safety? Everybody'sWhat sort of safety measures needed in your shop depends somewhat on your equipment, but making your press brake a safe piece of equipment is largely a matter of old-fashioned common sense.
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Safety still pressing for press brakes: Securing safety without sacrificing speed, productivityThe leading trend in press brakes safety is to ensure safety without sacrificing speed or hampering operators' ability to work efficiently, say press brakes manufacturers. This starts with tooling, including segmented or sectionalized tooling that is lighter and easier to handle; safety features that prevent unsecured tooling from falling, and fewer tool changes. It is further achieved with light curtains, camera and vision-based sensors, and mechanical side and rear guards, as well as automation and robots.
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A giant among machines: Structural steel fabricator installs 40-ft.-long press brakeGreiner specializes in structural steel and heavy plate fabrication. It does work for power plants and the mining industry. In the 33 years the company has been in business, it has done structural steel jobs in an industry where the work always seems to be getting larger and heavier. It recently installed a 40-ft.-long press brake that weighs more than 800,000 lbs.
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Laser-gas delivery systems for all applications, including 24/7 operation: A comprehensive look at the optionsWhen laser gases are used in significant volumes or in an around-the-clock operation, a centralized gas delivery system is a practical necessity. A well-conceived delivery system reduces operating costs, increases productivity, and enhances safety.
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Safety: The burning issue in oxyfuel torch use: Understanding and preventing backfires and flashbacksWhile flashback arrestors help prevent backfires and flashbacks in oxyfuel torches, no device replaces the necessity for safe operating practices and properly maintained oxyfuel torch equipment.
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