In this article we will discuss about the meaning and equipments required for welding shop.
Meaning of Welding Shop:
Welding shop usually involves heavy equipment and as such should be provided with a concrete floor, preferably at ground level. To avoid fire risks, the structure should be fire resistant. In order to remove smoke generated by welding, the room should be properly ventilated and provision for localised exhaust ventilation (adjustable type) be also made.
A monorail or a double rail crane system helps to provide easy movement of equipment and material in and out of the room. Safety equipment like fire extinguishers, first aid etc. should be readily available.
Equipment Required for Welding Shop:
Depending on the type of welding to be carried out, a welding shop should be equipped with the following equipment:
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(i) Oxyacetylene Generator / Cylinder:
Oxyacetylene generator may be stationary connected to a manifold system for distribution of the gas, or be a portable system to carry it to welding place. The accessories like leather gloves, pliers, wire brush, welding goggles, lighter, tips and wrenches etc. are either kept in a portable kit to save time, or are attached to the generating station.
(ii) Arc Welding Equipment:
It is usually installed in an enclosed booth to protect other welders from harmful rays. The booth is usually painted with a grey white colour having the peculiar property of absorbing the infra-red and ultraviolet rays.
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In order to save space and to minimise electrical primary power connection, several arc welding machines can be stocked in a common enclosure. Provision for inert gas arc welding is considered essential to produce quality welds on ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
(iii) Spot Welder:
It is best suited for fabricating shop.
(iv) Metal Cutting Equipment:
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It is necessary to cut and bevel the metal prior to welding. Accordingly metal cutting equipment like abrasive cutting wheel, power hacksaw, metal band saw, shears, nibbling, flame cutting torch, arc cutting machines etc. are desirable for a welding shop.
Pipe and tube notching machine to provide special notched ends on different sizes of pipes and tubes is also desirable for welding of tubes, and pipes.
(v) Furnaces:
These are required for preheating metal gradually before welding and to allow it to tool gradually to avoid any stresses and warpage. Preheating could be done by portable torch, or in enclosed or top open furnace.
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(vi) Overhead Crane:
Overhead crane is used where material to be welded is very heavy and is to be moved from one station to other. Small shops use chain fall driven either manually or by electric motor.
(vii) Jigs and Fixtures:
These are used to prevent the metal from warping or buckling during the welding operation and during cooling after welding. These also help in welding articles to produce finished products identical in size and shape.
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(viii) Power Tools:
These are very helpful and include drive presses, pneumatically powered wrenches, power chisels, pedestal grinder, portable grinder, flexible shaft grinder etc.
(ix) Blast Cleaning Equipment:
This is required to clean dirty or rusty metal stock before and/or after welding.
(x) Weld Test Equipment:
Depending on type of job handled, test equipment to check the quality of the welds is desirable.