Aluminum Gas Welding Using GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding)

Aluminum gas welding using the Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), also known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, is an arc welding process that is uses a tungsten electrode. GTAW can be used to weld many metals other than aluminum, including steel. TIG welding steel is easy, but welding aluminum is another cup of tea altogether. There are various factors that contribute to making aluminum hard to TIG weld.  

Here are the factors that make aluminum so much harder than steel to be TIG welded: 

Aluminum oxidizes a lot faster when left outside in the elements. This applies to boats, dock ladder, boat propeller etc. It creates problem when welding, which you should avoid by cleaning the aluminum before you TIG weld it.

Keep the settings right - the current setting should be A/C and the high frequency switch ought to be kept at continuous mode. If not, the arc will stutter. 

Since aluminum is a very good conductor, you will continuously have to control the amperage to keep the right amount of heat on the work piece. A foot pedal is a necessity here.

Robotic Arc Welding Requirements Functionality

(1) A more advanced seam tracking system will decrease resources needed for programming. In the general case, this will allow the sensor to guide the robot from start to end with only a small number of intermediate poses in the case of complex weld joints. Naturally, the sensor guidance must include orientation as well as this is an important parameter to obtain defined quality and productivity.

(2) In cases where the sensor detects a change of orientation of the weld joint, the welding torch must be oriented at a specific angle relative the joint to produce the weld in accordance with the welding specification procedure. This procedure defines the conditions to comply with quality requirements and the torch orientation is as important as many other parameters to control.

Robotic Arc Welding in Future Trends

Robot systems for automation of welding are today a robust technology that combines productivity with quality in a variety of designs of robot stations. The technology is combined with a set of supporting techniques related to welding engineering (different processes, control of the welding process, etc.), sensor technology and simulation and programming. New welding processes such as rapid arc and laser welding will put further demands on control aspects on robot systems as the travel speed increases and process operating parameters become more narrow. The use of new production processes is however linked to product design and the preparation of robust programs for the Robotic Arc Welding station so that the benefits of new processes can be utilized to their optimum.

Robotic Arc Welding Developments for Higher Autonomy

Research and development work on industrial robots goes back to the 1950s when developments took place in the field of NC machine tools. These machines had many building blocks in common with robots and the first prototype of an industrial robot from Unimation saw the light of day in 1960, and was in operation at Ford in 1961. The robots at the time were relatively simple with so called Point To Point (PTP) control and were primarily used in materials handling and machine tending, with spot welding coming shortly after for Robotic Arc Welding.

Still in the 1960s, Trallfa (now ABB Robotics) developed a robot for spray painting. The concept of programming and control of such a robot was quite different. The principle was that the programmer grabbed the robot end-effector and moved it in space and time while the robot recorded the motions. Typically, many such programs with quite short cycle times were made in a short time and the best one was selected for production. The method turned out to be a practical solution for the application in mind. It was tested on other applications as well in the 1970s, including arc welding, but with less success.

Arc Welding General Safety Tips

Arc welding safety is something that no welder should ignore. Many things can go wrong that can have serious consequences, such as severe injuries or even death. Arc welding comes in several forms - metal-arc, resistance welding, and gas shielded. All kinds can potentially result in injury or death if the proper safety procedures are not followed.

There are some general safety tips that you should always follow when you are going to be doing any arc welding job. Before you begin work, make sure that you do a complete inspection of all the equipment that you are planning to use. Check for things such as frayed wires or water on the equipment. Make sure that you read all of the instruction manuals and warning labels that concern your equipment. You also should always have a fire extinguisher nearby in case there is an emergency. Make sure that all of the welding machines are equipped with power disconnect switches so that you can shut them off quickly and turn them off before you try to make any repairs. Everything should be properly grounded. Any electrode holder that has defective jaws, loose cable connections, or poor insulation should never be used. You also should never strike an arc if anyone without eye protection is nearby.

Arc Welding Guide for A Beginners

Arc welding is used by many people from DIY enthusiasts to skilled engineers to repair ships and containers. It is well-known for being a practical and affordable type of welding that may be employed outdoors as well as indoors. The equipment for arc welding is also reasonably straightforward and all you need is an AC power supply. Machines are low-cost and may be purchased in most hardware shops.

You ought to spend particular attention to the safety procedures before you start any welding. Arc welding produces bright light and UV radiation so it is important you wear the right clothes. Your kit should comprise of a welding helmet, gloves, jacket, apron and rubber soled working boots. 

Arc Welding For Beginners - Welding Secrets Revealed

It gives such a thrill to see sparks fly as people weld iron and other types of metal. And this leads you to ask why not learn this skills as well. Welding comes with some hazards but if you have a guide to arc welding for beginners, you will soon see how easy it is and how you can make a profit out of your newly-learned skill. Are you starting to get interested into arc welding all over again?

Arc welding is used by many people to skilled engineers to repair ships and containers