TPT May 2008

T ube & P ipe W elding: T rends & P rogress

Worker protection: a round-up of welding helmets Buck & Hickman , (www.buckhickman.com), UK, has developed a new lightweight welding helmet, branded Roebuck ArcMaestro. It is claimed to be lighter and more

comfortable than other market leading brands, weighing just 0.6kg and with fully adjustable headgear. In addition, it has a very wide viewing area. As soon as the welder strikes an arc, the auto-darkening filter on the helmet darkens and ensures that the filter remains dark to suit the welding process. A potentiometer on the outside of the helmet makes it simple to adjust the visor shade between 9 and 13. The new model is solar powered so there are no on/off switches.

 The Roebuck ArcMaestro welding helmet with auto- darkening filter

The Digital Elite™ series of auto-darkening welding helmets, from Miller Electric Mfg Co (www.millerwelds.com), USA, offer the flexibility of using one helmet for welding, cutting and grinding. Building on the features of Miller’s popular Elite series helmet, the Digital Elite series also allows the user to quickly switch between four modes – welding, cutting, grinding and X-mode – while retaining the user’s preferences for shade, sensitivity and delay. The X-mode electromagnetically senses the arc, providing full protection for those instances when there is an arc present, but the sensors are obstructed. X-mode eliminates interference from sunlight and out-of-position welding angles, such as those found in pipe welding or in obstructed or hidden-cavity welds.

 Miller’s new Digital Elite™ helmet allows users to quickly switch between four modes – welding, cutting, grinding and X-mode

Jackson Products Ltd (www.jacksonproducts.co.uk), has launched a new welding helmet called TL Predator. TL Predator is designed to be used with the complete range of Jackson’s ADF’s (auto darkening filters) including the 2400 filter and Jackson Surface Mode ADF’s. Features of this helmet include a robust shell, offering outstanding head and face protection. With the correct protection lens shade, this helmet can be used for MMA, MIG and TIG welding offering the user reliable eye protection. It also offers permanent protection against UV/IR radiation, heat and spatter in any mode from clear to dark.

 The new welding helmet called TL Predator

The Lincoln Electric ( www.lincolnelectric.com) range of Vista ® auto-darkening helmets is available in three options. This entirely new design includes the full-featured Vista 3000, which provides a very large view – up to 25 per cent more than many similar helmets. The helmet also utilizes the latest auto-darkening technology. The helmets include variable shade adjustment from shade 9 up to 13. They have variable sensitivity, including a grind mode that fixes the shade at the light state of shade 3 for grinding. In addition, a TIG mode assists the helmet in detecting the arc in low amperage welding applications. Variable delay is also included, ideal for protecting operators from the bright light of slow cooling weld nuggets during high amperage welding.

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M ay 2008

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