Increasing demand for action on climate change has made clean energy a top priority worldwide. As the call for renewables like solar and wind energy have increased, interest in nuclear power has undergone a renaissance and is beginning to be considered part of a comprehensive solution. This has prompted many…
ARC MACHINES, INC.®
Articles on cutting-edge welding technologies, orbital welding best practices, and the latest welding accessories
One way to get a welding job is to wander into a structural steel shop in steel-toed boots, permanently stained jeans, and a ragged hoodie covered with burn holes and make a few welds. If the supervisor is satisfied with the weld, the welder may be asked to start that…
Pipe welding is particularly challenging because it requires welders to continuously transition through flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions. To address these pipe welding challenges and ensure high-quality, repeatable welds, orbital welding was developed. For optimal results, orbital welding systems must be programmed with these welding techniques. Likewise, machine operators…
Pipe welding is a challenge. Maintaining the appropriate arc length as the metal surface falls away from or rises towards the welder as the weld progresses is difficult. So is managing the input of fill materials. These factors are further complicated by the pipe and tube often being in the…
Stress corrosion cracking is an issue of increasing concern. Occurring in high heat service environments or highly corrosive service environments, or a combination of both this is a type of intragranular grain boundary cracking that can seriously shorten the lifespan of even high specification metals like Inconel or other nickel…
Welding originally referred to forge welding. Heating metal in a furnace and hammering on it until the pieces merged. Now, the term most often refers to arc welding and additional clarification is needed if you’re talking about traditional forge welding or welding using a gas such as oxyacetylene. Advancements in…
Pipe and tube welding is hard. It is so difficult in fact that it has its own dedicated certification process called 5G to weld the circumference of a horizontal fixed pipe. This pipe cannot be moved to make things easier, and if a welder produces a qualified weld and receives…
There are three arc welding processes that provide nearly miraculous seeming results. Wire Fed Flux Core Arc Welding (FCAW) and Metal Inert Gas (MIG), or Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), produce completed welds so swiftly that it seems almost magical. Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG), also known as Gas Tungsten…
Nuclear power has proven itself to be an efficient large-scale source of energy for decades. While both fission and fusion reactions can produce energy, the practicality of building the reactors depends on the process and reaction containment procedure. Fission power can be controlled, and despite its disadvantages, such as radiation,…
Applying manual welding skills to critical weld projects requires years of technical training and experience. And the process can still result in slow speeds, reduced productivity, and even worker injury. Also, any weld defects—like those that result from welder fatigue—must be addressed. Compared with the effort manual welding requires, orbital…