What Industries Use Orbital Welding?

Orbital welding has been around since the 1960s, but it’s only in the last few decades that it’s made its name as the champion of precision welding. The technology and practice of orbital welding has changed dramatically in recent years, and in this post, we’ll look at where it might be a year from now.

How did orbital welding start?
Orbital welding started in 1964 Magnatech developed an automated welding machine that could consistently weld metal tubing. This concept was later innovated upon by another company called AMI (Arc Machines Inc.). Since then, orbital welding has been used extensively in industries like aerospace and automotive. Today, there are many different types of orbital welders on the market, but they all follow the same concept. A computer reads programs to a weld head that create a high precision weld around a tube or pipe. Every machine is different in terms of water coolers, power supply, weld head, & operating system, but they all complete the same task, consistent repeatable welds.

Some of the biggest industries are taking advantage of orbital welding are on the cutting edge of improving people’s lives. While not all glamorous, their innovations create the tools we use every day for food, travel, communication, and health. Every year more and more industries turn to orbital welding to help create more consistent welds, lower production time, save money on rewelds, and deliver repeatable results. Over the past 2 decades MIT has worked with some of the biggest names in cutting edge technology and food & beverage. Since 2005 we've worked with companies in these industries:

1. Aerospace Engineering - as the aerospace industry strives for lighter weight construction and increased fuel efficiency, orbital welding is crucial for joining lightweight materials such as aluminum alloys and titanium alloys.
2. Pharmaceutical Development - as the pharmaceutical industry looks to improve product quality, orbital welding will be a critical tool in achieving consistent welds.
3. Dairy Processing - as the dairy industry looks to improve sanitation and safety, orbital welding will be key in ensuring pipelines are properly sealed.
4. Automotive Fabrication - as the automotive industry works on electric cars, orbital welding is becoming increasingly used for high-quality welds that take less time to create than with traditional methods.
5. Semiconductor Manufacturing - as the semiconductor industry looks to miniaturize components, orbital welding will play an important role in ensuring accuracy and repeatability of welds.

Let's look at how orbital welding is becoming the new standard in these industries.

Aerospace Engineering

Automated welding is a key process in aerospace engineering. Creating incredibly precise welds is vital to components of rockets fuel, oxygen, and hydraulic fluid delivery systems. Orbital welding heads from AMI and Magnatech can weld pipes as small as 1/4" and in incredibly tight spaces, giving an advantage in production and efficiency.

Pharmaceutical

The pharmaceutical industry is always looking for ways to improve product quality. One way they are doing this is by using orbital welding for drug production and processing. This type of welding is much cleaner and creates a stronger weld than traditional MIG or TIG welding. This means that there will be less chance of contamination and the end result will be more durable.

Dairy

The food processing industry is always looking for ways to improve sanitation and safety. One way they are doing this is by using enclosed welding systems like AMI and Magnatech heads. This type of welding creates a seal that is much less likely to harbor bacteria in the joints and connection spots than traditional MIG welding. This is important in the dairy industry where cleanliness is crucial. In the next year, we expect to see more and more food processing companies adopting orbital welding to create a safer product for consumers

Automotive

The automotive industry is always looking for ways to improve efficiency and weld quality, which is why orbital welding has become an increasingly popular option in recent years. But what does the future hold for this technology? Automotive manufacturers have used advanced robotics for quick tac welds for years but adding an automated weld head and program to those robotic arms could be closer than people realize.

Semiconductor Manufacturing

The semiconductor industry is ever-changing, and with that comes new challenges for those in the manufacturing field. One such challenge is the need for higher quality welds that will allow gasses to move through tubes smaller than 1/4", which is where orbital welding comes in. Like aerospace and pharmaceutical, semiconductor manufacturing will continue to utilize orbital. This is especially exciting given the news from semiconductor manufactures out of the country of Taiwan and Korea.

The welding industry is ever-changing and evolving, and that's especially true when it comes to orbital welding. In just the past year, we've seen new machines and technologies enter the market, making this an exciting time to be involved in welding. So, what does the future hold for orbital welding? Let us know in the comments below!

The welding industry is ever-changing and evolving, and that's especially true when it comes to orbital welding. In just the past year, we've seen new machines and technologies enter the market, making this an exciting time to be involved in welding. So, what does the future hold for orbital welding? Let us know in the comments below!