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 […]
Developing a welding procedure is the responsibility of the welding engineer. Most fabricators don’t have a welding engineer on staff and require that those with the most welding knowledge develop the WPS. Many times this falls in the hands of the certified welding inspector (CWI).
Welding of austenitic stainless steel and carbon steel base metal should use a filler metal that prevents solidification cracking. 309 is the preferred filler metal as it provides ferrite number of at least 3.
Stainless steels possess many properties that make them different from those of carbon steels. These differences provide certain advantages, such as corrosion resistance, but we must be aware of some of the intricacies of welding stainless steel to avoid problems. Many welding professionals, including welding engineers, that have worked primarily with carbon steels develop welding […]
Burn-through is a common defect in welding of light gauge materials. It is typically results in costly scrapping of parts since it can be difficult to fix. Or, if left in place when there are not structural integrity concerns it looks awful and portrays extremely poor quality. The following is an excerpt from our guide: […]
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 […]
If you look at any of the structural welding codes you’ll notice that contact-tip-to-work-distance (CTTWD) is a variable which must be listed in welding procedure specifications (WPSs). However, it is not an essential variable, meaning that changes to CTTWD of any amount do not require requalification. This can seem puzzling to some, especially those […]
Continuous learning is something that is very important for both personal and professional development. This applies to all industries and to all positions. The welding industry, as many of its counterparts, is challenged with a workforce that is lacking the skills necessary to do the job. This is driven by the increased demand for welders, […]
Welding in cold temperatures poses two critical challenges. First, the brutal conditions welders must endure and second, the performance of steel structures in cold temperatures. Many times we forget about the former by focusing too much on the latter. If you ever get a chance to talk to welders that have welded in both extreme […]
Who determines what size a weld should be? This is a question we ask many of our customers. And we never seem to get a straight answer. In a perfect world, the design engineer should specify all weld sizes and clearly communicate this through welding symbols on the print. But that is hardly ever the […]
