Orbital welding has recently become more popular in the engineering and construction industries, because it can do some things that standard welding can’t do, provide consistent repeatable results. However, not all orbital welds are created equal – and making sure to get the most out of your investment can be a challenge if you're not familiar with the system! Orbital welding is mostly hands off once you start welding, but there are some nuances you should know about. Here are 4 ways to get the most out of your orbital welding machine.
1) Get your orbital welding procedures preset
One way to optimize your orbital welding is to get your parameters preset for operation. This can be done by welding solutions providers like a welding engineer. By having your parameters preset, you can save time and improve weld quality. While it can be very intensive on the front end, it helps your weld team complete projects faster with more accuracy, saving time and money in the long run.
2) Check your gas mixture and flowrate
The gas mixture you use for welding can have a big impact on the quality of your welds. Different gas mixtures are better for different welding applications. For example, Magnatech & AMI welding solutions recommend using a mixture of 90% argon and 10% helium for most stainless-steel applications. However, it's best to find an expert welder or welding engineer for each material case that can help you avoid darkened, brittle, or low penetrating welds, which can happen depending on gas mixture concentrations.
3) Learn to purge the workpiece correctly
If you're not using a purge plug during welding, you're not getting the most out of your orbital welding. Making sure you have an airtight seal on the ID or OD is incredibly important for purging O2 out of your workpiece. When getting set up make sure and select the right type & size purge plug (OD vs ID, Static vs Variable, etc.) Once you have your plug, make sure the work piece is clean and free of debris. Purge the O2 and fill the work area with the correct gas. Don't rush the process. It can take upwards of 3 minutes to fully purge a workpiece but having a correctly purged tube or pipe can be the difference between a pass or fail.
4) Make sure your weld tapers off (Downslope)
Making sure your weld downslopes is incredibly important in Orbital Welding. The downslope ensures the beginning of the weld (where the least amount of amperage is) is fully closed off. This makes sure you’re making a full arc so there are no exposed areas that can cause a failure down the road. Downslopes are often overlooked but are one of the most important parts for creating a solid weld.
Orbital welding is a great way to improve the efficiency of your welding process, but they take time, training, and patience to create the most accurate welds. Following this blog hopefully gives you more insight on how to make the most out of your AMI or Magnatech Orbital Welder.
Orbital welding is a great way to improve the efficiency of your welding process, but they take time, training, and patience to create the most accurate welds. Following this blog hopefully gives you more insight on how to make the most out of your AMI or Magnatech Orbital Welder.
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