arc welding metals and welding. precautions and safe practices relatively safe compared to other...
TRANSCRIPT
Arc Welding
Metals and Welding
Precautions and Safe Practices
• Relatively safe compared to other forms of welding
• 4 areas of concern during arc welding– Shock - Fire
– Burns - Fumes• Light• Heat
Prevention of Shock
• Use a wooden grating on concrete floors– Rubber soled shoes are best
• Danger of shock is increased with higher temperature and humidity - perspiration
• Disconnect power before repairing– Qualified electrician should complete maintenance and
repairs• Make sure the machine is grounded
– Ground clamp – paint, rust, grease will prevent solid ground
Prevention of Shock
• Use special welding cables with high quality insulation– Repair solid – don’t use tape– Keep in good condition – free of grease, oil, out of
water, ditches, etc.• Electrode holders and cables should be fully
insulated• Turn main switch to welder off when leaving the
work area• Follow usual precautions in handling electric
power
Prevention of Light Burns
• Eyes– Helmet or hand shield with a minimum shade of
no. 10 lens is required (see table on 159-160)
• Wear safety glasses also
– Completely screen equipment for arc glare• Locate jobs in special rooms or booths• Avoid accidental contact on the part of others
• Skin– Completely cover body
• UV Light will cause “sunburn” type burn
Prevention of Heat Burns
• Clothing– Completely cover body
• Sparks and heat• Cotton clothing is preferred with leather shoes and gloves
• Mark hot metal to prevent others from coming in contact with welded pieces
• Pick up hot metal with pliers or tongues, not gloves or hands
• Don’t hand hot metal to instructor or TA’s
Prevention of Fire
• Clothing– Stand while Arc welding– Don’t roll cuffs– Keep free of oil, grease, etc.– Sweatshirts turned inside out
• Do not weld near flammable materials• Proper fire extinguishing equipment should
be stationed near welding operations
Prevention of Fumes Exposure
• Exhaust systems or breathing apparatus should be provided when welding inside– Fumes from electrode flux – non-toxic
– Fumes from paint – lead content - toxic
– Fumes from metal coating • Zinc (galvanized), Aluminum - toxic
– Carbon monoxide
– Carbon dioxide
– Dust
General Safety
• Good housekeeping– Keep area clean
• Electrode stubs• Slag on concrete floor• Cables hung up• Tools put away
– Good workmanship in making sound welds is essential to that others may not be injured due to failure of welded parts
Stick Electrode Welding
• Operation of a miniature electric furnace between the grounded base metal and the electrode
• Arc temperature is about 11,000º F• Molten metal must be protected from the air
by a gaseous shield and/or slag shield• Machine settings and operator’s manipulations
determine size and shape of bead
Successful Arc Welding depends upon:
• Correct metal identification– Metal properties vary
• Correct electrode selection – Depends on metal type, thickness and position of weld
• Correct amperage– Depends upon electrode type, size, position, and metal
thickness
– Influence “burn off rate” and affect arc length and speed of travel
Successful Arc Welding depends upon:
• Proper Arc length– Influences the amount of heat during the weld
• Correct speed of travel – Determines the width of bead and indirectly the
strength of the weld
• Angle of electrode– Determines the bead shape and controls slag
and gas inclusions
AC/DC• Alternating Current – electrons change direction
every 1/120 of a second (60 cycles per second)– Rapid reversal causes the welding heat to be evenly
distributed on both the work and the electrode• Direct Current – flow of electrons in one direction
– Electrode Negative (DC Straight) – electrode is negative and the work is positive (high electrode melting rate)
– Electrode Positive (DC Reverse) – electrode positive and work is negative (produces the best welding arc characteristics)
Electrode Selection
• Early arc welding done with bare, low carbon steel wire electrodes on DC welders
• Early 1930’s – flux coated electrodes– Exhaustive research into chemical and physical
properties and chemical combinations
• American Welding Society (AWS) has classified electrodes to allow for wide choices for many applications
Classification of Electrodes
• Classified according to filler metal specifications by AWS and ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) – Lincoln, AIRCO, Hobart, etc. will all be the same
• Based upon four factors:– Minimum tensile strength of the as-welded deposited
weld metal– Type of covering– Welding position– Type of welding current (AC, DC+, DC-)
Classification of Steel Electrodes
• Electrode designated by “E” followed by a 4- or 5- digit number
• First two or three digits - minimum tensile strength as-welded deposited weld metal expressed in thousands of pounds per square inch (1000psi)– E-60xx - 60,000psi TS– E-120xx - 120,000 psi TS
Classification of Steel Electrodes
• Third or fourth digit refers to the welding position.– E-xx1x - all positions– E-xx2x - flat and horizontal fillet positions– E-xx3x - flat position only
Classification cont.
• The fourth or fifth and last digit indicates the type of welding current and the type of flux covering– E-xx10 - DC reverse polarity (electrode
positive) only (cellulose sodium).– E-xx11 - AC or DC reverse polarity (cellulose
potassium ) Fast freeze, cutting– E-xx13 - AC or DC straight polarity (titania
potassium) Pg. 161
Factors of Electrode Selection
• Type of metal to be welded
• Thickness of metal
• Position of weld
• Type of power (DC or AC)
• Cleanliness of metal
• Weld bead appearance desired
Electrode storage
• Store electrodes in protected place– Avoid cracking or chipping flux by bending or
striking
• Store in dry place– Aluminum and low hydrogen (E7018) should
be stored in a closed container• Old refrigerator works well
– Low hydrogen electrodes may be re-dried at 300º F for non-x-ray welds
Function of Flux
• Improves the performance in handling, storage and operation of the electrode
• Floats out impurities• Directs arc stream (stabilizer)• Insulator• Prevents oxidation (slag or gas)• Holds in heat• Iron-powder improves striking ability and
increases metal deposition rate (E7024)
Selecting the Electrode for the Job
• Fast-Freeze-electrodes - deposits a weld that solidifies or freezes rapidly -
E6010, E6011.
• Fast-Fill - deposits metal rapidly - E7018, E6024, E6027.
• Fill-Freeze - characteristics between fast-freeze and fast-fill - E6012,
E6013, E6014.
Amperage Setting
• Influences the rate of metal deposition• Influences the speed of welding
– Bead should be 2x the diameter of the electrode wire
• Type of electrode influences amp. setting• Unusual to select the proper setting on the first try
– For ¼” steel, start at 90 amps and adjust from there
• Actual amperage is greatly influenced by arc length
Striking the Arc
• “Peck Method– DC welders
– Contact the plate with downward motion
• Scratch Method– AC or DC welders
– Contact by sweeping motion
Angle of Electrode
• Arc has a definite directional force
• Flat welding– Perpendicular from
side to side
– Tilted in direction of travel about 15º
Angle of Electrode by Position
• Tee and Lap– 45º side; 15-20º lead– 6011, 6013, 7024
• Horizontal– 5-10º side; 15-20º lead– 6013, 6011
• Overhead– 90º side; 10-15º lead– 6011
• Vertical up– 90º side; 0-5º slant– 6011
• Vertical down– 90º side; 10-15º lead– 6013
Proper Arc Length
• Arc welding involves unavoidable changes of arc length– Must be controlled as much as possible
• Arc length influences:– Actual amperage (heat)– Appearance of a bead
• Arc length should be equal to the diameter of the wire in the electrode (1/8”)
• Tighter arc will give even penetration, metal deposition, a strong bead, and less spatter
Proper Arc Length
• Long arc results in:– Large globules melting– Wavering arc– Wide spatter and irregular bead
• Short arc results in:– Electrode sticks– Poor penetration– Convex bead– Clag inclusions– Irregular bead
• Use short length for vertical welds
Speed of Travel
• Movement of electrode forward and downward• Travel speed influences:
– Bead width– Penetration– General shape of the bead
• Use a uniform speed• Both hands on the electrode holder
– Operator comfort• Bead should be about twice the diameter of the
electrode wire
Read the Bead
Controlling distortion(Volume changes of expansion followed by
contraction during cooling)
• Do not overweld.
• Avoid continuous welds.– Consider chain intermittent
– Or staggered intermittent
• Use fewer beads (passes).
Controlling distortion cont.
• Use 600 included angle on edge prepared joints.
• Weld near the neutral axis.
• Use back-step welding.
• Use wedging.