AWS D1.1 Prequalified Welding Procedures
Prequalified welding procedures must adhere to the strict requiremnts of the welding codes which permit their use. AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code (Steel) is one that allows their use. Prequalified WPSs are exempt from testing becasue there is reasonable assurance that as long as all the requirements are met the deposited weld will be sound […]
9 Maintenance Problems that Cause Bad Welds
Maintenance-related problems are responsible for a large portion of bad welds in every day welding. However, these causes go unnoticed and unresolved because they happen slowly over time. A proper preventive maintenance program for welding machines, CNC cutting tables and other industrial equipment is absolutely necessary. Many of the problems related to maintenance that cause […]
7 Reasons to Consider Stick Welding Over Other Processes
Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), or what is commonly referred to as “stick welding,” is one of the oldest welding processes. Despite being one of the first welding processes developed, it remains one of the most used welding process worldwide. If you have been working in a fabrication shop for years using advanced GMAW (mig) […]
3 Reasons Why You Need to Make Smaller Welds
Bigger is not always better, at least not in welding. Making welds bigger than they need to be is not only wasteful and costly, but can cause other problems such as distortion and premature failure. Below are 3 reasons why you may need to pay close attention to your weld sizes. 1. Bigger welds cost […]
The Importance of the Heat Affected Zone (HAZ)
When we weld we generate enough heat in the welding arc to melt the filler metal and base material. Or just the base material is we are welding autogenously (as in GTAW without filler). The edges of the base material melt and combine with the filler metal to create what is called the composite zone. […]
Inspection Before, During and After Welding is Critical
Weld inspection should not just take place after welding. Inspection before and during welding is critical. But what can you inspect if welding has not been performed? Take a look at the checklists below for pre, during and post weld inspection. Most of these items fall under the responsibility of the welding inspector, but any party involved […]
5 MORE Questions You Should Know for the CWI Exam
Today we’ll cover 5 more very important concepts that are governed by the AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code (Steel). If you missed our last post with the first five questions simply click here. These concepts can show up as questions in the Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) Exam. As stated in our article from last week, […]
5 Questions and Answers You Must Know for the CWI Exam
If you have taken or hope to take the CWI exam you probably have searched for some practice exam questions. In practicing for the code book portion of the test you may have come across a few questions for which you could find the answer, but didn’t really understand the importance of the question or […]
5 Common Mistakes Made When Estimating Welding Costs
When bidding jobs several fabricators end up calculating their costs associated with welding and then double that number to be safe. In some cases, that isn’t even enough. It is important to have a clear understating of how to translate the amount of welding to be done to actual manufacturing costs. One of the biggest challenges is that rework and overwelding is […]
21 Changes to PQR Essential Variables that Require WPS Requalification
Have you ever seen a welding procedure specification with established amperage ranging from 200 to 550 amps? Or voltage ranging from 21 to 29 volts? Or some other variable with a huge window? This is all too common, but extremely dangerous. Why? Because changes to essential variables beyond that which is reasonable will affect the […]