[ Welding ]
[ Welding ]
oxidise . This not only affects the quality of the welding seam but significantly increases the production costs as well . Incorrectly adjusted or non-optimised gas volumes and times , therefore , lead to the frequent replacement of worn parts and associated plant shut-downs , significantly limiting productivity . Yet significant improvements can be achieved even with small adjustments .
More is not always better Consumption of the inert gas itself is the third cost factor . The assumption that “ more is better ” adds no value in gas-shielded welding . Quite to the contrary : it has been observed in practice that an excessive gas flow is the root cause of numerous problems . Aside from improving the weld quality , reducing unnecessary gas consumption has a direct impact on production costs . Significant added costs accumulate quickly , especially when using mixed gases with a high proportion of helium . Up to several hundred euros per production day can be saved by specifically optimising the gas supply for the respective application . Measuring methods do exist to tailor the shielding gas to specific conditions . However , these are used almost exclusively in academic research today . For industry , this means that the effects of individual parameters can only be determined in practice by observing the respective , usually negative effects . As a complicating factor , the gas
Wolfram Industrie can three-dimensionally record the protective gas flow using a combination of streak methods and sensor measurements in conjunction with precise position data and optimise it for the specific application under consideration of all environmental conditions and influencing variables . Photo : Gesellschaft für Wolfram Industrie mbH
itself cannot be seen with the naked eye . Discolouration and wear of the tungsten electrode are the welder ’ s first indications that the shielding gas flow is improperly adjusted . The more problematic quality defects on the work piece itself , such as porosity , are generally only detected during in-process or downstream volumetric material testing . This means that optimising the parameters can at best affect the next work piece – provided it does not require entirely different process conditions .
New link between academics and industry Wolfram Industrie is operating a welding laboratory at its site in Switzerland to eliminate the costly trial and error principle . In this laboratory , welding experts can exactly replicate , measure and optimise the environmental conditions for any TIG welding application . To accomplish this , two approaches from scientific research have been adapted for industrial applications . Streak methods – imaging methods from the fluid engineering field – are one approach and can represent the gas and heat flows during active arcing at high resolutions . Sensor measurements are the second approach used at Wolfram Industrie to record , for example , the dynamic pressure , speed and chemical composition of the inert gas . In conjunction with precise position data , the protective gas can thus be measured three-dimensionally and optimised for the specific industrial application under consideration of all environmental conditions and influencing variables .
With a combination of streak methods and sensor measurements , Wolfram Industrie offers development services and consulting to optimise the TIG welding process for industrial applications . Photo : Gesellschaft für Wolfram Industrie mbH
About Wolfram Industrie
The company was founded in Berlin in 1911 as Wolfram Drahtfabrik GmbH for the manufacturing and processing of tungsten and molybdenum . The company relocated its headquarters to Nußdorf im Chiemgau in 2023 as part of a modernisation and expansion of its production capacities and now has 130 employees . In 2018 , the company opened its location in Switzerland . For more information , visit wolfram-industrie . de
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