African Fusion March 2019

TEG-1000 for improved TIG Electrode performance

T ungsten electrode grinders are es- sential with TIG/GTA welding. Using grinders that have been designed and manufactured specifically for tungsten metal is not only a much safer option, they provide more accurate results leading to as many as ten times more arc strikes and better arc direction with less flicker or wander. The tungsten electrode is one of the most important variables involved inTIG welding. Preparing the tungsten elec- trode correctly will help to improve arc starting, arc stability and consequently weld quality. Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® now manufactures the TEG-1000 tung- sten electrode grinder with a diamond wheel, producing smooth surface fin- ishes that eliminate arc jumping leading to consistent welds. Ron Sewell, Chairman for HFT® says: “Many welders today use belt sanders or bench grinders, both of which are unsuitable. Bench sanders and grinders are used for awide selectionofmaterials and are therefore likely to contaminate the tungsten with unwanted material, which in turn will risk a negative influ- ence on the welded joint.” “Sanders and bench grinders are not designed for tungsten grinding, so they can cause danger to the operators. They are also rarely able to provide the excellent finish to a tungsten electrode tip that is available from the TEG-1000 with its diamond wheel. “An incorrectly ground tungsten elec- trode tip may drop into the weld pool and create a tungsten inclusion that could lead to a weld cut-out or reject, either way leading to additional welding costs and lost time. It can also result in a huge reduction in tip life and changes in arc voltage.” The use of the TEG-1000 grinder will give repeatable tungsten electrode points every time, enabling consistent arc performance and welding results. Sizes 1.0 to 3.2 mm can be ground as standard, with other sizes catered for on request.” Savings can be achieved because of the increased life of properly ground tungsten electrodes. With the special collet accessory, shorter electrodes can be held, significantly increasing the life- time of each tungsten electrode before it is discarded. TIG welding requires tungsten elec-

trodes to have perfectly ground and polished tips. HFT®’s TEG-1000 provides these, time after time, to exactly the same size and shape. The design of the TEG-1000 is such that the diamond wheel grinds the electrodes longitudinally, preventing arc flicker orwander causedby circumferen- tial lines or ridges found on electrodes, which have been ground incorrectly. With tungsten electrodes ground and polished, mechanised welding can produce identical results every time. With manual welding, the shape of the tungsten electrode is just as important. With a correctly shaped tip, the arc can be precisely positioned with none of the preferential arcing experienced when using poorly shaped manually ground tips. HFT® alsomanufactures MultiStrike® tungsten electrodes that are designed to address the growing concerns about the radio-toxic thoria that is present in stan- dard red tipped electrodes. MultiStrike® tungsten electrodes are non-radiotoxic, non-thoriated, non-carcinogenic. They

The use of the TEG-1000 grinder will give repeatable tungsten electrode points every time, enabling consistent arc performance and welding results. will also strike 10 times more arcs than red tipped thoriated tungsten, when tested under identical conditions. “Changing to MultiStrike® tungstens ensures that thoriateddust is eliminated from the atmosphere so that any tung- sten grinding dust is not radiotoxic,” adds Sewell. www.huntingdonfusion.com

Ideal CrC wear solutions C hromium carbide (CrC) overlay plate from wear engineering specialist Rio-Carb is an ideal wear solution for a range of applications, from truck beds to dozer blades, shovel buckets, front-end loaders, and dragline buckets. Riocarb CrC overlay plate features a standard smooth surface with relief cracks, a ductile and workable backplate, a quality-controlled fusion zone, and a hard CrC overlay. “These plates form the basis of an engineered truck bed liner system that offers significant cost of ownership and return on investment benefits for customers,” explains Rio-Carb general manager, Sias Suurd. Available in a hybrid liner package, the system

Riocarb general manager, Sias Suurd.

greatly improves the wear life of truck beds – because the plate wears down at a uni- form rate, which means it is less maintenance-intensive – and dramatically increases productivity. Other advantages are that the systemhas been designed to reduce welding and can be customised in terms of its overall weight. No micro dead boxes are required at the rear of the truck, with no carry back either. In addition, offloading material by means of tipping is accelerated owing to a reduced friction coefficient. “Our engineering department is available for consultation for specific customer requirements, while our advanced manufacturing provides a quick turnaround on replacement components,” Suurd adds. In terms of dozer blades and shovel buckets, Rio-Carb manufactures liner packages for a range of models and sizes. Looking at haul trucks, Suurd highlights that Rio-Carb has designed liner packages with varying thicknesses in order tomatch the wear pattern on the load body. “The aim is to provide a liner package that wears evenly, thereby providing the longest possible life between liner replacements. The ultimate benefit for customers is a significantly lower total cost of ownership,” he concludes. www.riocarb.com

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March 2019

AFRICAN FUSION