Company Standards for Welding
Company Standards for Welding
(OP)
I currently work for a small company. We have a new product that needs to pass mil-std-810 shock/vibration. I have designed a 6061-T6 aluminum welded test fixture for this project.
Past engineers working for this company have not actually put actual AWS welding symbols on their drawings - instead merely putting a general note such as "CONSTRUCTION TO BE WELDED - fillet radii .xx".
The vendor that builds this test fixture will certainly do a fine job if I just make a few general notes on the drawing. Since this is only a test fixture of which they will only be making one- I do not want to go crazy with this project. I've already wasted time trying to figure out how strong everything needs to be, the types of weld, the filler metal, etc.
How does your engineering company deal with welded drawings? Do you have any advice for an engineer with ~5 years of experience? Is this too much detail for a simple test fixture? How much information is correct for this particular welded assembly?
I aspire to be the best engineer I can be. I want to be a "real engineer". I'm terrified of turning out like my boss and predecessor. I want to do things the "right way".
Thank you for your time in reading this post, and for any advice you all may have.
Past engineers working for this company have not actually put actual AWS welding symbols on their drawings - instead merely putting a general note such as "CONSTRUCTION TO BE WELDED - fillet radii .xx".
The vendor that builds this test fixture will certainly do a fine job if I just make a few general notes on the drawing. Since this is only a test fixture of which they will only be making one- I do not want to go crazy with this project. I've already wasted time trying to figure out how strong everything needs to be, the types of weld, the filler metal, etc.
How does your engineering company deal with welded drawings? Do you have any advice for an engineer with ~5 years of experience? Is this too much detail for a simple test fixture? How much information is correct for this particular welded assembly?
I aspire to be the best engineer I can be. I want to be a "real engineer". I'm terrified of turning out like my boss and predecessor. I want to do things the "right way".
Thank you for your time in reading this post, and for any advice you all may have.





RE: Company Standards for Welding
AWS welding symbols are the way to communicate the required weld precisely and unambiguously on engineering drawings.
The meanings are clearly defined.
They are the way to communicate the engineering requirements for welding to the fabrication shop.
Using the note "Construction to be welded" is analogous to using a note "About as big as a microwave oven" instead of properly dimensioning a drawing.
RE: Company Standards for Welding
RE: Company Standards for Welding
RE: Company Standards for Welding
AWS A2.4 is the industry standard for welding and NDT symbols. The current edition is the 2012.
The Machinist Handbook and the Mechanical Engineer’s Handbook are usually about 20 years out of sync with AWS standards, at least it was a few years ago when I looked at one in a book store.
Aluminum has no endurance limit. In other words, no matter how low the amplitude of the applied stress, the aluminum is going to fail by fatigue if there are enough cycles. The bottom line is the fixture could fail before the component being tested.
Best regards - Al
RE: Company Standards for Welding
You might consider moving the two diag. kickers in an inch or two, and moving then, and the main frame for that matter, an inch away from the edge of the base plate. Then use all fillets or variations thereof.
RE: Company Standards for Welding
RE: Company Standards for Welding
Also, you do not state the material on your drawing. Further, you do not specify the welding process. The will make a difference with 6061-T6 material...two options: GTAW and GMAW with proper shielding gas and wire.
You mention that you have "wasted" time determining the member sizes and such...that's not a waste of time. It is a necessity. Also agree that aluminum might not be the better material for a test fixture, particularly if repetitive or vibratory loads are being considered.
RE: Company Standards for Welding
RE: Company Standards for Welding
Now that i'm back from a short vacation, I'm still not sure about how to size my fillet welds. I've seen rules of thumb all over the place, but at the end of the day, I really don't know what to do. I ordered a book on amazon that will be here shortly, but realistically i'll probably end up bolting everything together. Thanks!