Manufacturing with Aluminium can have many benefits. It can help extend part life, reduce weight and even deliver greater integrity in cold temperature, making the material great for applications such as truck/ trailer/ boat manufacturing. However, the process of Welding Aluminium can come with some challenges.
Achieving high-quality Welds, when welding with aluminium with GTAW, takes practice and skill. Here are out tips to overcoming Aluminium challenges with GTAW:
With GTAW, you control when the filler metal is added and are able to establish the puddle and ensure proper penetration before adding filler metal. Keep in mind that having more control over this variable adds another layer of complexity and operator skill compared to other processes such as GMAW. Aluminium is a very conductive metal; therefore, proper heat input is an important factor in successfully Welding Aluminium with GTAW.
If you’re not familiar with Aluminium Welding, you may not realise that the material generates an oxide layer. The melting point of Aluminium Oxide is roughly 3 times the melting point of Aluminium. It is very important to clean off the oxide layer, with a stainless-steel wire brush or carbide cutter, so that it doesn’t obstruct your view of the Weld puddle. Be sure that the oxide layer doesn’t start to re-form before finishing.
Another step that contributes to making a good aluminium weld is setting the proper balance control. When you are welding in AC polarity, the weld has an electrode-negative cycle and an electrode-positive portion of the cycle. EN is often considered the welding side of the AC waveform, while EP is where oxide removal occurs. Turning the EN down to provide more cleaning action may be necessary when you are welding material that’s been exposed to the elements. As a result, it has a thick oxide layer that wasn’t completely removed during material preparation.
Another factor that makes weld placement easier is the AC output frequency. The output frequency refers to how many times per second the power source switches polarity. This also can be set and adjusted on modern welding power sources. AC output frequency shouldn’t be confused with high-frequency arc starting, which only comes into play for arc starting.
If you’re looking for Welding Services for pipes or tubes, rest assured that PCES will provide the service. Industries they supply include: Pipeline Constructors, Oil Refineries, Tank Farms, etc. Their aim is to supply the best possible quality, reliably, and the most competitive Cost.