TPT January 2007

P rogress in W elding T echnology, E quipment & C onsumables

Pipe purging and tungsten electrode grinding innovations

Huntingdon Fusion Techniques Limited, UK, manufactures Argweld ® , a water soluble purge film that allows a welder to purge the back of a weld, without filling up the whole pipe or tube system with expensive Argon gas. The use of purge dams made from Argweld water soluble film allows a small volume of pipe either side of the weld to be isolated and quickly filled with argon or another inert gas, reducing waiting time while saving gas wastage. Argweld Purge Film makes a tough gas barrier once the dams are positioned in the pipes, but as soon as the pipes are washed out or hydrostatically tested, the

film and adhesive dissolves completely, so it does not clog any filters or other sensitive components. This product is available in a ready-to-use kit, which includes 20m length of 1m wide film, folded in half and rolled onto a spool. Inside the kit is a safety knife to cut the dams, two bottles of water soluble adhesive and an instruction booklet. To measure the oxygen content in the interspace (between the dams), the Argweld Weld Purge Monitor may be used. The monitor informs the user when welding may begin, and warns if the oxygen content rises too high during welding. The company has also designed and developed a range of quick purge systems, aimed at speeding up the purge process for large pipes and tanks. Based on the Argweld Inflatable Purge System, the new Quick Purge devices restrict the purge volume to about 75mm either side of the weld. A large diameter collar around the spinal hose, which connects the two inflatable dam ends, achieves a further volume restriction. The surfaces of the Quick Purge system

› The TEG-3 grinding machine

are protected with heat protecting material which has been tested up to 1,000ºC. The systems are built for all pipes and vessels from 200mm to 3,000mm in diameter. Huntingdon Fusion Techniques has also updated the design of tungsten electrode grinding machines, by changing the grinding head from the ‘three o’clock’ to the ‘six o’clock’ position. Key advantages of this change are that particles of dust are expelled downwards towards the vacuum dust extractor port, and the operator has a clearer view of the grinding process.

fi The Argweld water soluble film in use

New double cut coil end welder Kent Corporation, USA, has developed a new double cut coil end welder for tube mill and strip process lines. The new version of the model DSAA coil joiner was developed to hold up under the demanding tube, pipe and process line applications.

› The ready-to-use Argweld Purge Film kit includes film, adhesive and a safety knife

The TEG-3, has been designed especially for the grinding of tips on tungsten electrodes as used in TIG (GTAW) and plasma (PAW) welding. The tool will axially grind all diameters of tungsten welding electrode from 1mm to 6.4mm (0.040" to 0.25") and lengths down to 15mm (0.75"), with the aid of a special collet accessory. A long life diamond wheel with a 2mm (0.080") metal bonded diamond layer is fitted. The unit is available with a low cost vacuum unit to extract the dust, which can also be retrofitted, if required. A high speed motor provides the correct speed for diamond grinding of tungsten, and is available for use on either 110V or 220V single phase connection for 50 or 60Hz frequency. Huntingdon Fusion Techniques Ltd – UK Fax : +44 1554 836 837 Email : hft@huntingdonfusion.com Website : www.huntingdonfusion.com

The welder provides heavier edge guides, shear and a new torch guiding system. It can be cycled two to three times as much as older designs with little or no maintenance. The machine’s shearing and fit are more precise, and the cycle time is faster. Kent Corp is also a supplier of tube mill equipment, including horizontal and vertical strip accumulators, coil end welders, and equipment for tube end-finishing processes such as deburring, ID flush-out, dedimpling, and combo dedimpling/ deburring. The company supplies tube mill consumables such as OD scarfing inserts, ID scarfing inserts, impeders, ferrite and casings, HF work coils (new and rebuilt), cut off blades, and new tube mill consulting.

› The new double cut coil end welder from Kent Corp

Kent Corporation – USA Fax : +1 440 237 5368 Email : sales@kenttesgo.com Website : www.kenttesgo.com

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J ANUARY /F EBRUARY 2007