TPT May 2008

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Tube & Pipe Welding: Trends & Progress
M ay 2008 102 ›
Worker protection: a round-up of welding helmets
Buck & Hickman, ), 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 Digital Elite™ series of auto-darkening welding helmets,
from Miller Electric Mfg Co ), 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.
Jackson Products Ltd ), 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 Lincoln Electric ) 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.
 The Roebuck ArcMaestro welding helmet with auto-
darkening filter
 Miller’s new Digital Elite™ helmet
allows users to quickly switch
between four modes – welding,
cutting, grinding and X-mode
 The new welding helmet called TL
Predator