TPT January 2011

T echnology U pdate

MIG/MAG welding performance

their day-to-day production processes they now use controlled drop transfer to insert consumables into joints measuring up to 1cm in width, as this enables them to create the perfect seam root without any need for a pool support. coldArc also offers advantages when performing MIG welding on thin metal sheets, including gap bridging, no sagging of the molten metal and good wetting of the surface. The forceArc MIG/MAG process, with a very short but powerful spray arc, ensures deep fusion penetration and virtually spatter- free seams on unalloyed, low- and high- alloy steels, without undercuts. The arc is directionally stable and achieves root and edge formation even with a 40mm free wire end (stickout). forceArc is able to make full-depth welds with a single layer. This means that the conventional backing pass is no longer necessary and the effective throat thickness required by the standard is realised on the reverse of the workpiece in a single operation. In many cases this kind of weld does not even require special seam preparation. EWM Hightec Welding GmbH – Germany Fax: +49 2680 181 244 Website: www.ewm-group.com

EWM Hightec Welding’s versatile alpha Q MIG/MAG welding and brazing machine features a highly dynamic, fully digital inverter power source designed to offer exceptional quality, whether working on thin or thick metal sheets, seam roots or final passes. alpha Q features the award-winning forceArc ® andcoldArc ® processtechnologies, and with its inverter power unit with sophisticated microprocessor technology also boasts additional processing options such as pulse welding and pipeSolution ® , the latest development from the EWM research department. Advantages of this technology when working on metal sheets and pipes in all positions include quick, dependable and high-quality MAG root welding, whether for manual or mechanised work (eg orbital technology), with or without an air gap, on unalloyed or low-alloy steels or with solid wires. The arc is especially powerful and therefore very directionally stable, no matter what the thickness of the material or the position of the metal sheet or pipe. These

strengths are particularly beneficial when constructing pipelines, pipe systems and pressure vessels. Once the root has been welded, the alpha Q changes process on demand and welds the filling passes and the final pass with a pulsed MAG process. coldArc is a suitable process for work requiring the lowest possible heat feeding and weld spatter. The process offers excellent gap bridging when welding root passes on unalloyed, low- and high-alloy steels, regardless of the panel thickness or the position (including out-of-position welding). Other advantages of welding and brazing processes where heat transfer to the parent metal is kept to a minimum include increased safety with irregular air gaps, minimum distortion, less post-weld work thanks to excellent seam geometry – particularly good for visible seams – narrow discolouration zone, reliable edge formation even with edge misalignments, no wire piercing and no pool support required. One of the system’s users reports that in

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