Category Archives: Qualification
Welding Procedure Development: Selecting Welding Parameters
When writing a welding procedure one of the most critical steps is selecting our welding parameters. This means determining the appropriate amperage and voltage as well as other critical aspects that the welder must adhere to such as travel speed and travel and work (transverse) angles. What follows is an explanation as to the importance […]
Welding Procedure Development: Selecting the right welding process
Selecting the best welding process is a critical step in developing a welding procedure that attains the desired quality and optimizes productivity. Many times we look for the welding process that can give us the highest deposition rate to optimize productivity. However, every welding process has limitations. For example, submerged arc welding (SAW) has extremely […]
Understanding the Difference between Qualified and Prequalified Welding Procedures
One of the most common questions we get around the topic of welding procedure qualification is regarding the differences between qualified and prequalified welding procedures. The main question is typically: is one better than the other? Before we answer this question, let’s first discuss the need for qualified, or prequalified, welding procedures. If you have […]
Pick Your Prequalified Welding Procedures Carefully
If you work with AWS D1.1 you are probably familiar with the use of prequalified welding procedures. The use of prequalified WPSs provides many benefits to the fabricator, one of which is costs savings due being exempt from having to perform costly testing to qualify the welding procedure. However, if you are looking to save […]
How To Qualify A Welding Procedure
Whenever you hear that a welding procedure needs to be qualified it simply means that its suitability for use in a welded structure needs to be proven by testing. This means that the welding procedure must be capable of producing sound welds. But what are sound welds? Sound welds are welds that will perform in […]
How to get a Qualified Welding Procedure Quickly
Have you ever been in a situation in which you need a qualified welding procedure immediately? Maybe you just failed an audit and have to halt production until a valid welding procedure is provided. Or maybe you’re just in a hurry to get started with a new job. Regardless of the reason you need the […]
5 Methods to Determine Preheat Temperature
Preheat is used when a base material, due to its chemical composition, thickness or level or restraint, is susceptible to cold cracking (hydrogen induced cracking). Knowing what temperature to preheat your base metal is sometimes a complicated matter. You may hear people say “preheat to 300F to be safe.” The reality is that 300F may […]
AWS D1.1 Prequalified Welding Procedures
Prequalified WPSs for GMAW, MCAW, SMAW, FCAW & FCAW-S
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 […]
5 Questions and Answers You Must Know for the CWI Exam
And fundamental principles for the fabrication of steel structures
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 […]