Posts Tagged ‘welding equipment’

Safe Ways To Welding

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Welding requires alertness and concentration to get the best out of the job. It demands alertness because the machines are harmful. A welder cannot laze around at work. He has to give total attention to the work he is performing unlike many other jobs. Accidents in welding are not new. Most of them are avoidable accidents. Here are some tips to avoid harm to you while welding;

  • Wear the right protective gear as specified by the manufacturer in the instructions book.
  • Keep the welding equipment rust free. Always check if there are any damages on the machine that might lead to accidents.
  • Safety gears for eyes are mandatory.
  • Area of work should be away from crowding places. This will create less damage if inevitable.
  • Maintain the welding equipment as advised by the manufacturer.
  • If there are any defective parts in your welding equipment make sure they are replaced at once.
  • Keep the work place airy.
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General Idea About Welding

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Through welding two or more pieces of metal can be joined which can act as a single piece. Welding is very important of our economy. In U.S.A nearly 50% of gross national product is related to welding in one way or another.

There are different processes of welding, out of which some processes cause sparks and others do not require extra heat. Welding can be done outdoors, indoors, underwater and in outer space. Welding work is done for different industries. They are involved in agriculture, construction and mining machinery. They are also involved in bulldozers, cranes, material handling, food-processing machinery, papermaking and printing equipment, textiles and office machinery. It is also used in transportation sectors like shipbuilding, aircraft, spacecraft, railroads, automobiles, trucks, buses, trailers and associated equipment.

Welding is also used in the primary metal industries which include steel mills, iron and steel foundries, smelting and refining plants. Another place is the electrical and electronic equipment companies. Welding in this group is done in electric generators, battery chargers to household appliances.

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Description About Welding

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

Some important tasks that a welding operator has to perform are as follows:

  • Welding operator should follow all the safe habits and operate the welding equipments safely.
  • Welding can be operated in various positions like flat, vertical or overhead.
  • If any defective materials or equipment is found, notify it to supervisors immediately.
  • Monitor the fitting, burning and welding processes to avoid overheating of parts.

Tools used in welding are Blow torches; welders like Arc welders, underwater welding equipment, Wire feed welders; Welding masks like face shields, hand shields and welding shields. Welding tools that are required are Rod ovens, storage ovens, hot boxes and welding guns.

A welding operator should have mechanical and design knowledge. He should have mechanical knowledge of machines and tools.

Skills required for this job are time management, critical thinking, mathematics, listening skills, speaking, and reading comprehension and maintain the equipment in a proper way.

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Overview on Diesel Generators

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Diesel generators can be used for domestic, industrial and commercial purpose. These are not only used as a primary power sources but also as standby/back power sources. Being made in various sizes and configurations, they can be built to your exact specifications. Diesel generators are an extremely versatile and cost effective power solution.

Life expectancy for liquid cooled 1800 rpm engines can be 20,000 hours if properly serviced. These can be operated in cold conditions. It can work better if loaded for a long period of time. During disaster situation, it can be used by military, truck industry or farm operations. Cost for this type of generator is much lower when compared to gaseous powered engines.

People prefer Diesel generators for following reasons:

  • Quiet operation
  • Less maintenance
  • Rugged and durable
  • No spark plugs
  • Longer life

Some of the factors that you have to consider before purchasing a diesel generator are:

  • How much power do you need?
  • Will you use it for emergency purpose or prime application
  • Noise level
  • Kind of power needed- single phase or three phase
  • What kind of use and environment will the generator be
    subjected to –heat, humidity, altitude, dust levels and power loads
    all have a direct effect on generator performance and life.
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Points to Remember Before Buying a Welding Helmet

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Welding is the process of joining metals by melting the parts and then using a filler to form a joint. Welding can be done with a gas flame or electric arc or ultrasound. Welding is an unsafe task. A Welding operator should protect himself while welding. He should wear certain safety equipments like protective clothes, welding helmets, gloves etc. A welding helmet can protect your eyes from ultraviolet and infrared rays. While buying a welding helmet you have to look into certain features:

Always buy a welding helmet that is lightweight and comfortable to wear. If a welding operator is uncomfortable wearing a welding helmet it may lead to accidents. Welding shields must block ultraviolet and infrared rays to be effective. If an operator wears light weight helmet it can minimize strain on its neck and reduces fatigue.

Auto darkening welding helmets have lenses that automatically darken when a welding arc is struck and returns to a light state when welding ceases, it allows the wearer to work without removing the helmet. Passive welding helmets are available in fiberglass, leather, plastic, thermoplastic, vulcanized fiber in various colors and helmet types.

Solar power and battery life welding helmets:

Auto darkening helmets generally have non-replaceable battery and solar assist panel. While using this helmet for the first time you should charge it for sometime in front of direct sunlight. A better investment is a helmet powered by a replaceable battery and solar assist panel that enables you to start welding right away.

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Different Types of TIG Welding Joints

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

The different types of joints used for TIG welding are as follows:

Butt Joint:

Square-edge butt joint can be easily prepared and welded without filler rod. This Butt joint is mostly preferred for lighter materials. If you want to weld without filler rod, see to it that you avoid burning through the metal. Single-V butt joints are mostly used in materials that have thickness ranging from 3/8” to 1/2” to secure complete penetration. Double-V butt joint is preferable in metal that exceeds ½” thickness. Welding can be done on both sides.

Lap Joint:

Lap Joints are mostly preferred for metals that are ¼” or less in thickness. It can be welded with or without filler rod. This joint is not preferred for metals that exceed ¼” in thickness.

Corner Joint:

Filler rod is not required in corner joint on lighter metals that is upto 1/8” in thickness. But for heavy metals filler rod is required.

T-Joint:

A T-joint can be formed by inserting a piece of metal perpendicular to another to form a T-shape. Filler rod is very important to weld T-joints despite thickness of metal.

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Safety Measures for Arc Welding

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

Arc welders are used to make and repair plain, coated or treated metal items. Always wear dark colored coveralls with long sleeves and pant legs so that you can protect your body from burns due to ultraviolet light, molten metal and sparks. The coveralls should be fire retardant, cuffless and pocket less with no holes, tears or worn sports. Leather gauntlet gloves and safety boots will protect your hands and feet. Googles and welding helmets can protect your eyes from flying sparks, chipped slag and UV light. Welding helmets should be free from cracks, gaps and openings. Arc welders can reach temperatures greater than 10,000 degrees F, posing a fire and explosion hazard. Always keep a fire extinguisher, fire blanket and first aid kit in the room.

When you weld steel or other conductive materials always use an insulating mat to avoid electric shock from arc welding. Keep welding cables clean and intact and position them so that they do not get sparks or hot metal on them. Use arc welders in well-ventilated areas.Welding metals may be hazardous or lead to an oxygen deficient atmosphere and are best handled in a ventilation hood exhausted to the outside.

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Welding Stainless Steel

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Stainless steel can be welded using different procedures like shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding and gas metal arc welding.

There are two main types of electrode coatings in shielded metal arc welding. These are the lime type designated by the suffix15 and the titanium type indicated by the suffix 16. The lime coated electrode with the suffix 15 can be used with direct current electrode positive. The titanium type electrodes are used with alternating current and direct current electrode positive. Both lime and titanium electrode coating are low-hydrogen type and used in all positions. Titanium coated electrode is considered smoother and suffix 15 electrodes are more crack resistant.

Gas tungsten arc welding are mostly used for thinner sections of stainless steel. Argon gas is mostly used in gas shielding. But sometimes argon-helium mixtures are used in automatic applications.

Gas metal arc welding is mostly used in thicker sections of stainless steel. Spray transfer mode is used for flat position welding and this requires the use of argon for shielding with 2% or 5% oxygen or special mixtures. Short circuiting transfer can also be used on thinner materials.

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Tips On Reducing Welding Costs

Friday, June 12th, 2009

If you notice nearly 20 percent of the welding cost is related to materials while the rest is attributed to labor and overhead. Hence, if a company saves 10 percent on the material costs of welding, the company is only saving two percent of the total welding costs. But, if a company can save 10 percent on the costs associated with labor and overhead, the company can achieve an eight percent savings on the total welding costs. If companies want to operate efficiently and minimize wasted time, they have to operate in a better position. They should stock up all necessary items like shielding gas, flux and wire. They should also switch to large spools of wire such as from 25 lb. spools to 44 or 60 lb. spools to even larger packages of 1,000 lb reels or 1,000 lb drums.

Another way to reduce welding costs is to delivery of parts to the welding station in an organized and logical fashion. You can create efficiency in welding process by examining wire diameter, wire feed speed, voltage, travel speed, gas type, transfer mode etc. It can be better to double bevel a joint to prepare if for welding rather than single bevel it. Look for ways to modify product designs to eliminate unnecessary welds. Welding costs can be reduced if proper safety techniques are followed.

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Certain Safety Steps Can Avoid Injuries Caused By Welding

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

A home owner can save thousands through welding and can also make a little money on the side. But if a person does not take necessary steps it can cause him serious injuries and accidents. To avoid unnecessary injuries he has to take a few precautionary steps.

Grinding wheels and cutting torches can produce lot of sparks. Oil rags can easily catch fire if proper care is not taken. A person should not weld if he is wearing short pants, short sleeves or gloveless as his skin can get burnt. Welding can cause a horrible sunburn effect if the person welding has bare skin exposed. It is always better to wear safety goggles, helmet and gloves to avoid injuries.

Do not use extension rods that are frayed or patched for your welder.
Always use quality equipment. Always use expensive welding hood. It is always better to check you’re grinding or cutting wheels. Make sure there are no gas leaks from any tanks and blades are in working conditions. Never turn off a grinder and lay it on the ground. You may be at the risk of an accident with equipment that is still plugged in, even if it is off. If you are using a gas process for MIG welding see to it that tank valves are fully closed and always unplug the welder.

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