TPT January 2007

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

Expert technology in preparation and automatic welding machines

All manual or automatic tube welding processes such as TIG, MIG, and MAG, require an optimal preparation in order to achieve high quality welds. Preparation is essential particularly when using automatic welding, as the machine cannot compensate for any preparation errors. Commonly, companies are specialised in preparation machines or in automatic welding machines but rarely both, which

can lead to preparation mistakes and therefore poor welds. Axxair design and manufacture a complete range of machines encompassing orbital tube cutting, orbital tube bevelling and orbital tube welding. This specification capability involves the matchup of an orbital welding machine to the exact optimal preparation of a welding joint to ensure the best weld possible. The range of machines covers cutting operations, bevelling operations – from simple V bevels to Tulip bevels – and a range of prefab welders and open or closed heads depending on the application. The company’s unique carbide bevelling system allows very efficient and quick bevels with tracking devices to ensure a perfect prep for orbital welding. This line of machines – with models including GA120,

GA170, GA220, GA320, GA420, GA520, GA620 and GA720 – covers tube diameters from Ø 12-720mm. In line with growing global demands, any application is fully proven with through cutting and bevelling, while samples of the final welding results are sent prior to order processing. For prefab applications, the welding program includes a unique prefab system that can combine all three functions – cutting, bevelling and orbital welding. With 10 years of experience in the field and customers in over 40 countries, Axxair is ideally placed to serve the orbital thin wall tubing process market. › Axxair’s orbital welding machine, branded SC170 Tube mill electrodes improve productivity Diamond Ground USA, specialises in one of the most important and frequently overlooked welding process variables: the electrode. Welders can invest enormous amounts of money in welding equipment, but if the electrodes are not selected and prepared correctly, then the welding results can be poor, inconsistent, or problematic. Tube mill electrodes from Diamond Ground Products improve weld quality and productivity, by offering CNC-machined, high-quality and long lasting electrodes ideal for tube manufacture. Diamond Ground Products is dedicated to the improvement of weld quality and welder productivity, and maintains a reputation as an industry leader in tungsten and tungsten preparation. Products, Axxair – France Fax : +33 475 57 50 80 Website : www.axxair.com

fi Model GA170 orbital bevelling machine

High performance rolls for welded tube mills There are several processes for the manufacture of welded tubes, which depend primarily on the tube dimension and material. The rolls for all operations must be very precise, and require a high wear resistance and toughness. For the welding operation there is a wide range of techniques used including argon arc, laser, plasma, induction, low frequency electric resistance, and conductive or inductive high frequency resistance welding. The latter technique is most common today.

Depending on the process used, the S+C Group can supply welding rolls constructed from different materials including cold work tool steels, hot work tool steels and aluminium bronzes. In this area, S+C supplies high frequency welding rolls made from the specially treated alloy tool steel Märker ® Remu, which has non-magnetic properties reducing heat build-up in the rolls during the welding process. Rolls made from Märker Remu offer similar wear resistance to rolls made from other high carbon high chrome (HCHC) tool steels and outlast rolls manufactured in expensive special grade aluminium bronzes.

The Schmidt + Clemens Group supplies a full range of high precision roll products from its manufacturing plants S+C Bowers & Jones, UK, and S+C Märker, Germany. The complete in-house service includes extensive in depth technical advice on rolls, plus design and development. › Welding rolls made from special non- magnetic material Märker Remu

S+C Märker GmbH – Germany Fax : +49 22 66 92 509 Email : rolls@schmidt-clemens.de Website : www.sc-maerker.de

Diamond Ground Products – USA Fax : +1 805 498 9347 Email : sales@diamondground.com Website : www.diamondground.com

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J ANUARY /F EBRUARY 2007