Sanitary welding is a critical component of many industries, including food and beverage, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals. To ensure the highest level of quality in these industries, it is essential to have high-quality welds. To achieve this, proper cutting of the tube before welding is of utmost importance. Tube cutting blocks are a crucial tool for making sure that the welds are precise and of the highest quality. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of using quality tube cutting blocks in sanitary welding.
What are saw block kits?
Saw block kits are welding tools that are used to create a square cut on stainless steel tubes with an Orbital Welding reciprocating saw. These kits come with multiple blocks that are designed to securely clamp the pipe, providing support and preventing any potential deformation as the saw runs through the pipe. The quality of the cut is important for creating a quality weld and accurate fit up, so using high-quality saw block kits is essential in industries such as sanitary welding.
Why is weld quality important in sanitary welding?
High quality welds are essential for safe and hygienic piping systems in the bioprocessing industry. The ASME BPE Standard requires that the weld criteria of ASME B31.3 – Process Piping be met for acceptable metallic materials, prohibiting weld discontinuities such as cracks, voids, porosity, lack-of fusion, and incomplete penetration. The BPE standard specifies orbital welding as the preferred joining technology for bioprocess tubing, due to the accuracy of the welds which can be achieved with the use of welding tools. Manual welding is also allowed with owner/user and contactor agreement, however it is more difficult to achieve a consistent level of quality compared to orbital welding.
How do saw block kits impact weld quality?
Saw block kits are essential welding tools needed to ensure that parts are properly fit-up prior to orbital welding. They help ensure that tube or pipe ends are cleanly cut and beveled so they can be joined together with precision. Without proper fit-up, welders are more likely to encounter issues such as lack of penetration or too much penetration, which can lead to weak or structurally compromised welds. By using saw block kits, welders can produce quality welds with greater confidence. This is especially important in sanitary welding applications, where it is necessary for the welds to be strong and reliable for long-term use.