As you can guess from the history of welding, the ability to join two or more pieces of metal together in a strong bond has been fundamental in our advancements in all areas of life, from housing to transportation; from manufacturing to repairs. Understanding welding basics can come in handy at work, but it will just as often come in handy around the house, in the workshop or on the farm. Because of this, welding is a skill that almost anyone can benefit from, male or female, young or old.

Why Weld?
If you own any equipment or machinery that is metal, welding will certainly serve as a useful skill. Some typical goals of a welding job include:

Fixing stress cracks
Reinforcing weak joints, and
Cutting/shaping new parts and adapters from raw plating.

For chores like these, many welders rely on a process known as arc welding. Arc welding is a method where during the welding process, an electrical current jumps through an air gap (between a positively charged electrode and a negatively charged steel plate) and produces an enormous amount of heat. This heat is produced at the end of a welding rod, and when it does, metal can be melted. Well, it’s a little more complicated than that, but the concept is the same.

Perhaps the most common and economical welding method used today is AC (alternating current) arc welding. You can locate a simple AC welder just about anywhere, such as your local farm store or home improvement center. This welding process is ideal for most of your simple, routine welding jobs. Therefore, AC arc welding is ideal for those of you just starting out. Reer to spot welding Canada for more information.

Minimize Your Risk
While arc welding isn’t incredibly complicated, there are a few risks and hazards that you should be aware of:

1. Exposure to radiation
2. Flying sparks (in the form of globs of molten metal)
3. Electric Shock
4. Fumes
5. Damage to your eyes, and
6. Burns

However, by wearing protective clothing and specialized welding helmets and other gear, you can greatly reduce the inherent risks of welding. Here are a few other tips to help keep you safe while arc welding:

Make sure to work on a dry floor. Wear thick rubber shoes and dry leather welding gloves.

Be sure to use insulated electrode holders.
Check to make sure that your equipment is all properly grounded.

Keep your work area properly ventilated to avoid inhaling any potentially toxic fumes.

Be on the look out for flying bits of melted metal.

Most importantly, be aware of any other people who are around you. If they aren’t wearing the proper gear, then keep them away from your project.

This will get you started welding safely - one of the most important things when learning a new craft. Visit welding supplies Canada for further information.

Ultrasonic welding machines’ quick, clean process uses high-frequency vibrations and pressure instead of heat to melt and weld plastics, which provides many benefits.

Ultrasonic welding, perhaps the most rapidly developing field in the industry, uses high-frequency vibrations - not heat - to weld plastic pieces together. Ultrasonic welding machines are used to join small- and medium-sized pieces of plastic by creating frictional heat that melts the plastic together. Once the vibrations stop, the plastic immediately cools and solidifies.

There are many benefits of electronic welding, including that the process is quick and repeatable. Further, the process does not “consume” any additional materials, which means it does not require screws, nails, bolts, soldering materials, glues or other adhesives. Ultrasonic welding machines may even be used to create hermetic seals, because the finished pieces are so strong and clean. An added benefit is that no ventilation system is required because no heating is involved.

Through pressure and high-frequency mechanical vibrations (15 kHz to 40 kHz), the plastic is quickly melted into a solid-state weld. Many ultrasonic welders run at 15 kHz, 20 kHz, 30 kHz and 40 kHz frequencies.

The ultrasonic process begins with two thermoplastic pieces that have similar melting points. They are placed together, one atop the other, in the ultrasonic welding machine. Then, high-frequency vibrations are applied directly to the joint being welded. With the vibration application concentrated in the joint itself, the process melts the joint but not the base materials. When the plastic melts, the vibration is stopped and pressure is applied - and the plastics are melded. Because the process is as fast and efficient as it is, weld times are sometimes less than a second.

The ultrasonic welding process has become invaluable to many industries. They include the automotive, cosmetic, computer, appliance, toy, medical, electronics, textile, packaging and food industries. Ultrasonic welding is usually preferred in the medical-supply industry, because the no parts are contaminated by outside materials. Products processed with ultrasonic welding machines can even be used for “clean rooms” in hospitals. One of the most typical uses of ultrasonic welding is in the packaging and food industries, which also count on the contaminant-free, clean, quick process.

Ultrasonic welding has come a long way and is now one of the most progressive industrial techniques. It was in the late 1940s that ultrasonic waves were first used - mostly for cleaning. Then, in the 1950s, ultrasonic welding was introduced as a way to weld plastics and metals. In 1965, the patent for the process was granted to two men - Robert Soloff and Seymour Linsley. The popularity of ultrasonic welding began with the toy industry and has spread to a growing number of applications every year.

Now, some 60 years after its advent, ultrasonic welding has emerged as the leading assembly method for rigid thermoplastics. Ultrasonic welding machines come in many models, including ultrasonic hand guns; bench-top integrated ultrasonic welders; automation ultrasonic actuator heads and modular power supplies; and closed-loop process controls, like energy welding, distance welding, time welding, force welding, automatic frequency tuning and variable-amplitude output control. Microprocessor and standard-time models are available, as are tools of the trade, like ultrasonic horns, fixtures, converters and boosters for all makes, models and brands of ultrasonic welders.

When it comes to companies that provide plastic assembly solutions, look for top-notch service and technical support and a company that meets each customer’s individual needs. For superior ultrasonic welding machines, check out Plastic Assembly Systems at www.heatstaking.com.

Source: Internet