FOCUS ON WELDING
“ The projection press , with high electrode force , can weld the projections while avoiding the associated spattering caused by force-fit redressing .”
The portal projection welding system from NIMAK , which produces guide bars for chainsaws at STIHL ’ s U . S . factory . In a fully automated process , a projection press joins the three sheets required .
MAKING THE CUT
STIHL relies on NIMAK portal projection welding systems for the production of guide bars for chainsaws .
At its North American factory and German headquarters in Waiblingen , the STIHL Group relies on automated welding systems for producing guide bars . The components , also known as saw chain guide bars , are elementary for chainsaws ( where the company has been a global market leader for over 50 years ). They ensure precise guidance of the saw chain with minimal friction . The saw chain transfers the engine ’ s power to the wood .
For some time now , the corporation has depended on NIMAK , a provider of resistance welding technology , to produce these bars along with the necessary welded joints . The company ’ s portal projection welding systems are used to produce guide bars for chainsaws . NIMAK , with its headquarters at Wissen ( Germany ), has also made its mark as a supplier of intricate automation solutions .
Projection welding is a form of resistance welding which uses pressure and electrical current to join two or more metal parts that have been designed to meet at one or more specific points , with the maximum amount of contact . This allows for more efficient welding with less energy and greater weld strength .
Connecting the components
A guide bar essentially consists of three components that need to be connected : two outer sheets and a relatively smaller sheet in the middle , which ultimately creates a channel
Above top : A guide bar for a chainsaw , where the various welded joints are still clearly visible . Above : STIHL has been the world ’ s largest supplier of chainsaws for more than 50 years .
32 | ismr . net | ISMR June 2023