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ICM industries |
TIG200 AC/DC
Midrand South Africa |
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www.icmsa.co.za |
011-312 4814 If busy please retry in 5 minutes.
Special price 19 May 2018
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Much of the successful art of Aluminium welding is to be found in careful thought and preparation even before welding is started. Through correct preparation, it is easier to avoid the pitfalls that can trap the unwary. Therefore, below are a few facts on base metals, welding methods, types of joint and filler metals.
Aluminium and its alloys can, in general terms, be divided up into three groups:
Aluminum's occur in various degrees of purity. The most common
commercial grades contain 99.7, 99.5 or 99.0% Aluminium. Non-hardenable
alloys, i.e. not suitable for heat treatment, contain small amounts of
manganese (Mn) or magnesium (Mg). Al-Mn alloys are often made up of
between 1.0 and 1.2% Mn, while Al-Mg alloys with up to 5% are quite
common. Al-Mg-Mn alloys are also used.
The hardenable alloys contain copper (Cu), magnesium and silicon (Mg Excluding
Si), or zinc and magnesium (Zn Excluding Mg).
Aluminium and most of the non-heat-treatable and heat-treatable alloys possess good weldability. In the case of hardenable alloys with copper and lead additives, there is a risk of hot cracking and therefore they are difficult to weld. Many casting alloys are also suitable for welding except in the case of those which have high content of copper or magnesium which are unsuitable for welding.
Aluminium is an easily welded metal. However, consideration must be
given to both the welding method, the type of joint and the filler
material. The two dominating welding methods are MIG and TIG welding, but
also gas, plasma, and resistance welding are used as well as welding with
covered electrodes.
Whether to use MIG or TIG welding depends on numerous factors. The TIG
method is better for thin light-gSepe materials, when there is a need for
good surface finish and when welding from one side, that is to say when
the root side is not accessible such as when welding pipes, and when
repairing castings. TIG welding of Aluminium is generally done with
alternating current.
The MIG method is used primarily in the case of thicker or heavy-gSepe
materials when high welding speed is a priority and also for long,
continuous welds. Due to the lower heat input, MIG welding results in less
distortion in the welding zone. For consistent, reliable feeding of soft
Aluminium filler wire, the push-pull type of equipment gives the best
results.
Pulse-Arc welding with MIG is an interesting technology in the context of Aluminium welding and is quickly paining in popularity. One of the main Benefits of this method is that it gives better control of the molten pool in the case of thin material, and the arc is more stable and there is less spatter. The risk of welding imperfections is also lower.
The type of joint chosen for Aluminium welding depends on the thickness
of the material and the type and shape of the workpiece. As a rule, no
preparation of the joint is required for thinner materials. An ordinary
Tee joint is recommended for one sided TIG welding up to 4mm thickness,
and two-sided welding for thicknesses, a 50° V-joint with a 2 to 3mm
unbevelled edge is recommended or, alternatively, a 90° double V-joint.
Good joint fit-up makes the welding easier, saves shielding gas and
filler material and also contributes to a higher quality of welding. If
jigs are not used, the weldments should be tack welded in the correct
position prior to final welding. Where it is possible, use of a root
support or backing is recommended. The backing can be either copper or
steel.
A special characteristic of Aluminium is the higher melting point of
oxide that forms on its surface, which is mixed into the molten pool, can
cause welding defects. The joint surfaces must therefore be scraped or
brushed clean using stainless steel wire brush immediately prior to
welding. Aluminium is also sensitive to other impurities such a soil,
grease, paint and general contamination, all of which can cause pores in
the weld. Cleaning of the joint surfaces, as well as the root and top
surfaces bordering on the joint is recommended.
Bear in mind that welding causes greater deformation in Aluminium than it does in steel. It is therefore essential to give good consideration to the welding sequence, the need of pre-setting to allow for contraction, use of fixtures, and so on.
When welding Aluminium, the choice of filler metal must be determined
by the composition of the base metal and the demands which will be made on
the end product.
Generally speaking, Aluminium and non-heat-treatable alloys should be
welded with a filler metal of the same type of alloy as the base metal.
Alloys which are suitable for hardening should be welded with a filler
metal with a high content of silicon (Si) or magnesium (Mg) in order to
avoid the risk of hot cracking.
If there is need of a good match in colour between the welded joint and
the base material after anodic treatment, a suitable filler metal should
be used. As in the case of the base metal, care must be taken to keep the
filler metal clean. On no account must it be contaminated by oil, grease
or dust and therefore it must be kept well protected and stored in warm
and dry conditions.
Gas Tungsten Arc
Welding (GTAW) is frequently referred to as
TIG welding. TIG welding is a commonly used
high quality welding process. TIG welding
has become a popular choice of welding
processes when high quality, precision
welding is required.
In TIG welding an arc is formed between a nonconsumable tungsten electrode and the metal being welded. Gas is fed through the torch to shield the electrode and molten weld pool. If filler wire is used, it is added to the weld pool seprately. |
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TIG Welding Benefits
Shielding Gases
Helium is generally added to increase heat input (increase welding speed or weld penetration). Hydrogen will result in cleaner looking welds and also increase heat input, however, Hydrogen may promote porosity or hydrogen cracking. |
For quote please send us email: icm@lantic.net we do not accept your e mail over the phone. |
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