Weld Procedure Improvement 2

[ColonelSanders83]

Hello All,

At the company wher I am employed we do alot of pipe butt welding. I believe the weld procedure we are using is costing us time and money but I am not a welding expert. Our proceedures are ASME BPVC section IX complient, however they were all developed by people no longer employed here.

It has fallen to me to improve the current proceedure as I showed interest in the matter (rookie mistake, but I can't stop myselft).

Our current proceedure is as follows for a standard butt weld in sch std carbon steel pipes:

Process GMAW/FCAW P#1 Gr#1 to P#1 to Gr#1
Thickness range 0.187"-0.864"

Pass Process Filler diameter Type Amps Volts Travel
Root GMAW ER70S-6 0.035" DCEP 80-145 17-22 5 IPM
Bala FCAW E71T-1 0.045" DCEP 150-225 22-26 6 IPM

This procedure requires wire to be changed out and cuffs to be changed due to the wire size change, we also have a significant overpenetration of 1/8" to 1/4" on the root.

While I apprecieate any comments on our current procedure, what I am really looking for is books or liturature on the creation of welding procedure that will pass the procedure qualification requirements. I would like to learn more about the practical side of welding engineering, any tips or recources will be greatly appreciated.

A question properly stated is a problem half solved.

Always remember, free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it!

http://www.ap-dynamics.ab.ca/

 

[metengr]

If free advice is what you are looking for, I would highly recommend you join AWS (American Welding Society) and read their Welding Journal, and other publications. I came across an article the other day, I believe it was in the January, 2010 issue titled

"How Can Computational Weld Mechanics Help Industry?"
A case is made for the use of computational weld mechanics to predict weld properties in advanced materials
S. S. Babu et al.

 

[connectegr]

Probably the best source for technical support is Lincoln Electric. Their Welding Technology Center can provide excellent input on your application as well as technology and process improvements you can make.

http://www.FerrellEngineering.com

 

[weldtek]

You might also contact your welding consumable sales rep. If there any good, they'll be able to bring out technical help from a variety of manufacturers.
If they can't, start buying product from someone who can.

 

[ColonelSanders83]

Thank you for your valuable input, I will be joining AWS ASAP. The Lincoln an Miller websites both contain a substantial amount of usefull information on the subject.

We have been in touch with our vendors, and although they have proved usefull, I can never shake the feeling that I am being sold what is best for them rather than what is best for my place of work. Hopefully some expanded knowledege on the matter will help.

A question properly stated is a problem half solved.

Always remember, free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it!

http://www.ap-dynamics.ab.ca/

 

[stanweld]

As an improvement for the short arc transfer mode of the GMAW process used for the root pass, research the controlled wave form power supplies/processes from Lincoln and Miller.