TPT July 2010

T echnology U pdate

The welding of difficult tube

New laser weld seam inspection KENT Corporation has introduced a new post-weld seam inspection system for TIG and laser welder mills. The system records mis-match, roundness, concavity and undercut. Standard equipment is accurate within 0.001" and higher resolution cameras are available. The touch screen is simple to read and use. An alarm can be set to notify the operator before the tube is out of spec to prevent scrap and returns due to bad welds. The system also makes set up faster and easier. Some users report that the set up time was reduced by more than 50%. The system can be justified easily with a decrease in scrap as high as 70% or more. One user reported that their return rate for tubing was reduced to almost nothing. Kent Corporation – USA Fax: +1 440 237 5368

APPLICATIONS for small diameter, heavy wall mechanical tubing continue to increase, particularly in the automotive, recreational vehicle, agricultural and garden machinery sectors. Typical applications include car headrest restraints, seat frames and side impact systems. Commercial considerations are such that this type of tube needs to be produced at mill speeds which are economically viable. Often considered to be the hardest tube to weld, many producers simply have no option other than to apply excessive weld power to try and achieve a weld. This is far from ideal and will deliver “blue” tube at best or a major increase in scrap in extreme cases. This is not the case for mills installed with the latest generation of Thermatool HF welders fitted with patented HAZControl Technology™, designed to provide precise, independent control of weld power and weld frequency on each and every mill run. To achieve higher mill speeds and increased productivity the weld conditions must also be optimised and correct selection and positioning of both the work coil and the

impedor is essential, as is the installation of correctly sized squeeze rolls. HAZControl Technology™ enables the mill operator to store product process parameters for all types of tube (including small diameter/heavy wall) providing quick and easy, automatic operation on future mill runs. HAZControl Technology™ is therefore ideal for “difficult to weld” product such as small diameter/thick wall tube. It enables mill operators to start at a higher weld frequency, then reduce it to a point where the optimum weld properties are obtained, or to just above the point where the impedor begins to lose its magnetic properties. Thermatool applications engineers are always available to discuss smarter ways to weld even the most difficult products.

Thermatool IHWT – UK Fax: +44 1256 467224 Email: info@ihwtech.co.uk Thermatool Corporation – USA

Fax: +1 203 468 4281 Email: info@ttool.com

Email: sales@kenttesgo.com Website: www.kenttesgo.com

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