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Many of the considerations that inform tube welding
are basic to the method: selection of materials, joint
preparation, cleanliness. But particular metals –
stainless and carbon steel, aluminium, nickel-alloy
– call for welding protocols that are as distinctive as
the materials themselves.
Today’s welding professionals are the successors
of those who learned from experience not to take a
brush that has been used on a stainless or carbon
steel workpiece to one made of aluminium.
To the companies represented here, the differences
– in grain structure, melting point, thermal
conductivity – among metals, and among the
welding techniques that these differences dictate,
are very well understood.
Perfect welds may be taken for granted by the
customer of a state-of-the-art tubing plant. Why?
Because, gained the hard way, respect for the
individuality of metal feedstocks is second nature to
the work force.
Welding technology
Photo: K-TIG – Australia