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Welding
Equipment, Accessories and Tools
Welding Equipment and Tools includes
all equipment used in the process of joining two or more pieces of metal
together either by the application of heat or pressure, or a combination
of both. This is done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material
to form a pool of molten material that cools to become a strong joint.
Sometimes pressure is used in conjunction with heat, or by itself, to
produce the weld. This is in contrast with soldering and brazing, which
involve melting a lower-melting point material between the workpieces
to form a bond between them. Most of the welding equipment and processes
may be grouped into two main categories: pressure welding, in which the
weld is achieved by pressure; and heat welding, in which the weld is achieved
by heat. Heat welding is the most common welding process used today. Visit
Northern Tool and Eastwood
for a huge selection of Hobart, Mig, Tig, Arc, Spot, and Stick Welders,
plasma cutters, welding tools, helmets and other supplies!
With the development of new welding equipment and techniques in the 20th century, welding replaced bolting and riveting in the construction of many types of structures, including bridges, buildings, and ships. It is also a basic process in the automotive and aircraft industries and in the manufacture of machinery. Along with soldering and brazing, welding equipment is used in the production of virtually every manufactured product involving metals. The welding process best suited to joining two pieces of metal depends on the physical properties of the metals, the specific use to which they are applied, and the production facilities available. Welding equipment and processes can be classified according to the sources of heat and pressure used.
The
original pressure process was forge welding. Before the 19th century,
the only welding process was forge welding, a trade mastered by blacksmiths
and other artisans for centuries to join metals by heating and pounding
them. Metals were brought to a suitable temperature in a furnace, and
the weld is achieved by hammering or other mechanical pressure. Forge
welding is used rarely in modern manufacturing. The welding processes
most commonly employed today include gas welding, arc welding, and resistance
welding. Gas welding is a nonpressure process using heat from a
gas flame. The flame is applied directly to the metal edges to be joined
and simultaneously to a filler metal in wire or rod form, called the welding
rod, which is melted to the joint. Gas welding has the advantage of involving
equipment that is portable and does not require an electric power source.
The surfaces to be welded and the welding rod are coated with flux, a
fusible material that shields the material from air, which would result
in a defective weld. Arc welding processes use a welding power
supply to create an electric arc between an electrode and the base material
to melt metals at the welding point. They can use either direct (DC) or
alternating (AC) current, and consumable or non-consumable electrodes.
The welding region is sometimes protected by some type of inert or semi-inert
gas, and filler material is sometimes used as well. In resistance welding,
heat is obtained from the resistance of metal to the flow of an electric
current. Electrodes are clamped on each side of the parts to be welded,
the parts are subjected to great pressure, and a heavy current is applied
briefly. The point where the two metals meet creates resistance to the
flow of current. This resistance causes heat, which melts the metals and
creates the weld.
Welding
Applications
As an industrial process, welding can be performed in many different environments,
including open air, underwater and in space. It can also be done on other
materials besides metal, i.e., plastics welding. Regardless of location,
however, welding remains dangerous, and precautions must be taken to avoid
burns, electric shock, poisonous fumes, and overexposure to ultraviolet
light. Welding technology advanced quickly during the early 20th century
as the world wars created a demand for reliable and inexpensive joining
methods. After 1945, several modern welding techniques were developed,
including manual methods like shielded metal arc welding, now one
of the most popular welding methods, as well as semi-automatic processes
such as gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding and
flux-cored arc welding. Later, developments continued, with the
invention of laser beam welding and electron beam welding
in the latter half of the century. Today, as the science continues to
advance, robot welding is becoming more commonplace in industrial
settings and new welding methods are constantly being developed. Plastics
welding has also made great strides where two plastic workpieces are
fused together under the action of heat and pressure, resulting in crosslinking
of their molecular chains.
FREE SHIPPING — Hobart Welder/Generator Champ — 230 Amp DC,10,000
Watts Model# 500433. Weighs 10-20% less than the competition.
22 HP Robin engine, runs at 3600 RPM. DC weld output provides smooth arc
performance and easy starts. Has four 120V, 20 Amp and one 120/240V, 50
Amp receptacles with push-button reset circuit breakers. &;No tools&;
oil changes. Heavy duty construction and enclosed engine design prevents
damage while in transport. Includes 20 ft. electrode cable with holder
and 15 ft. work cable with clamp. 33 in. H x 18 3/4 in. W x 37 1/2 in.
D. Cart NOT included. Truck Ship. U.S.A. When you go to their website
click on the welding link for more information.
Northern Tool also carries a complete inventory of welding equipment from arc welders, oxy-propane and oxy-acytylene cutting torches to spot welders, soldering irons, welder/generator outfits, torch carts, welding carts, clamps, plasma cutters, welding jackets, welding tool sets, welding wire and much much more.
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