Welding small diameter tubing can be difficult. The tight radii often require expert welders to deliver precise torch manipulation with finesse. If the welder is not skilled enough, the out of position areas are at risk of poor quality due to gravity affecting the weld pool and ineffective torch angles. If out of position welds cannot be completed satisfactorily, the part must be rotated. However, some assemblies can’t be rotated because of size constraints or they might rotate off of center. If a mechanized welding solution is desired for small diameter components, look no further than our Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding Head Systems.
Closed-Head Pipe Welders
Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding Systems are comprised of two main parts: the
Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding Head and the Axxair Orbital Inverter Power Supply. The Orbital Fusion Closed Welding Head fully encompasses the assembly being welded. This means that an inert gas environment can be created around the part, preventing it from the risk of oxidation that it might be exposed to during a welding operation that relies solely on a gas nozzle. The Orbital Fusion Closed Welding Head also has a ring drive that enables full 360 degree motion around the weld joint, all the while keeping a consistent torch angle. Furthermore, it is capable of going over 360 degrees for when slope-in and slope-out parameters are needed.
“The Orbital Fusion Closed Welding Head also has a ring drive that enables full 360 degree motion around the weld joint, all the while keeping a consistent torch angle.”
The Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding Head comes in three models to accommodate a variety of diameters. The smallest head (SATF-40NDHX) can weld down to ¼” diameter tubing, and the largest head (SATF-115NDHX) can weld up to 4.5” diameter tubing. Different size clamping jaws, which are inserted into the orbital weld head, can be bought to ensure proper clamping and adequate shielding gas coverage. The Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding Head also requires a tungsten electrode of a certain size and diameter. The size of the tungsten needed will vary depending on the diameter of the assembly being welded. See the specification sheet to determine what head size, jaw size, and tungsten size are required for different size diameters. See the operator manual to learn how to install the jaws and the tungsten.
Pipe Welding Power
The other part of the Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding System is the welding power supply. The SAXX-200EDGI Orbital Fusion Closed Welding Inverter Power Supply is what delivers the electrical energy through the welding head and out the tungsten electrode that is needed in order for welding to be carried out. The SAXX-200EDGI can be hooked into either a 110V outlet or a 230V outlet, giving the end user excellent flexibility. It can weld up to 200 amps when plugged into a 230 volt outlet and 140 amps when plugged into a 110 volt outlet. The SAXX-200EDGI has a 7.5 inch color touchscreen that allows for outstanding human-machine interfacing. On the SAXX-200EDGI, a user can enter in their application specifics such as diameter, material type, and thickness and have the machine calculate a starting point for parameter development. Gas purge, both through the torch and internal purge through the part, can be programmed and monitored on the power source as well.
Orbital Pipe Welding Applications
The Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding System can be used in many different industries. Aerospace has many small welded assemblies made out of exotic materials such as titanium. The Axxair Orbital System ensures the oxidation of the titanium will be prevented through the argon-rich environment it creates within the welding head. The oil and gas sector often requires tubing to be welded together to transport fluids. Often times, these are large assemblies that cannot be rotated. The Axxair Orbital Head allows for 360+ degrees of welding at a constant torch angle without any assembly rotation required, making it ideal for an application such as that. The nuclear industry requires extremely high-quality welds. The Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding System lends itself perfectly to this industry because not only does it produce high-quality welds, but it does them on a consistent, repeatable basis that simply cannot be achieved by manual welding.
Orbital Welder Advantages
While there are specific industries and applications where the Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding System has already proved itself, its potential to be advantageous in other small diameter tubing applications is vast. Any instance in a small diameter tubing application where skilled labor can’t be found, consistency is key, and quality is of the utmost concern, then implementation of the Axxair Orbital Fusion Closed Welding System should be strongly considered.
Read more on orbital
