Dangers inherent in transporting gas cylinders
Welding equipment
The gases used in welding applications are highly volatile and should be treated with care. Welding gas supplier Air Liquide Australia has advised customers of an incident involving an explosion in Paramatta, Sydney last year.
On 14 September, following the accumulation of acetylene gas in a motor vehicle, an explosion occurred, completely destroying the car and causing extensive property damage. The gas was ignited when the car door was opened and the interior light was activated. The tradesman involved was seriously injured.
Air Liquide sent the letter to remind customers of the dangers involved in carrying gas cylinders in enclosed spaces. The company provides safety notices on request and states that warning notices must be prominently displayed in all cylinder storage areas.
The Australian Industrial Gas Manufacturers Association (AIGMA) has released a leaflet; 'Transport of gas cylinders' to advise users of the necessary requirements to legally and safely transport and store gas cylinders. Contact the AIGMA on 02 9936 3666 or speak to your local gas cylinder supplier.
New compact Supamig 200C
Migomag Welding Supplies' Supamig 200C is a compact 240-volt, single-phase mig-welding unit fitted with wheels and extendable handle for portability. The Migomag 200C accommodates 5kg mig wire spools and is designed for vehicle body repairs, welding muffler and exhaust systems, sheet metal work and the welding of non-ferrous metals. Weighing only 48kg, the Migomag 200C produces the smooth arc required to weld thin gauge metal and the power to weld heavier steel sections up to 5mm.
Additional features include the option of gas or no gas operation, thermal overload protection, easy-to-use control panel, copper wound transformer and European Community approval for EMC filtering. The 200C comes complete with a three metre torch, earth lead and clamp, preset argon regulator/flowmeter, primary lead and plug.
The Migomag unit accommodates mild steel welding wire from 0.6mm-0.8mm, stainless steel from 0.6mm to 0.8mm, aluminium welding wire from 0.8mm-1.2mm and flux cored wire from 0.8mm to 0.9mm.
Enquiries, tel: (03) 9312 4999, email: info@migomag.com.au.
On-site hydrogen
A range of on-site hydrogen generation systems for specific welding applications is now available in Australia. The GasTec range of Oxy-Hydrogen generators exclusively available from On Site Generating Solutions and manufactured by Universal Gas Generators includes application-specific models.
The range includes the HydroCut System -- designed for thermal cutting applications, eliminating the need for LPG or acetylene gas.
The system can be used with standard oxyacetylene hand torches as well as major profile cutting machines from ESAB, Iwatani, Tanaka, and MG for steel cutting up to 12" thickness.
In addition, the HydroBlaze System is an advanced welding process designed for brazing of aluminum, copper, brass, stainless steel and mild steel.
Brazing fluxes are added to the generator (application dependant) to eliminate the need for manual flux application during brazing and improving productivity.
The GasTec Generator produces hydrogen and oxygen gas from the electrolysis of water. The process is safe, environmentally friendly and economical. The gas is generated on demand and eliminates the need for storage of high pressure cylinders, and the ongoing costs associated with rental, delivery and gas supply.
Enquiries, On Site Generating Solutions, tel: (03) 5368 7445, fax: (03) 5368 7439, email: info@onsitegenerating.com, website www.onsitegenerating.com.
Problem-solving welders
German precision equipment manufacturer Elektron has released two additions to its top-selling Multispot welder range. Each meets the need for a purpose-designed solution to problem welding situations. The M83 solves a costly problem experienced by many shops -- that of weak and/or unreliable mains supply -- which occurs frequently in industrial areas where there is a high power demand.
The M83 has a three-phase power supply and has been engineered to achieve better exploitation of available power. It does this by achieving a lower current load per phase with a consequent voltage drop. As a result, the welding process is faster due to the continuous welding current. The M83 delivers 15kVA and has a welding capacity of 50kVA. Ambient temperature is 40 degrees C and the unit comes with trolley, spot welding tongs, welding pistol and extractor tool.
The second unit, the M20, answers the demand for a separate unit especially for dent-pulling, carbon and copper shrinking and stud welding. A satellite for the M80 and M90 range, the M20 is a small and practical welder with its own slide hammer. It is ideal for welding difficult-to-get-at washers, corrugated wire, T-studs and 2 to 5mm bolts. Because it uses a single-phase power supply the M20 eliminates the need for a three-phase welder. The Airpuller plugs straight into the machine, thus freeing up the spot welder. There is also an optional pistol with a four-metre cable. Both new welders are available in Australia through Car-O-Liner.
Enquiries, Car-O-Liner, tel: (02) 4271 6287, fax: (02) 4271 7899.
Three-in-one
Spanesi, through CMC in Australia, markets the Punto three-in-one welding centre. Set on a mobile workstand, the Punto contains three essential machines for body repairs. With just one power point you get a wire welder, a spot welder and a dint puller.
The wire welder included in the unit has been purpose-built for heavy-duty and continuous use and complies with standard EN60974.1. The welder is provided with a three metre Binzel torch. The stand provides maximum accessibility to all equipment for quick, easy maintenance.
Enquiries, CMC Australia, tel: (03) 9482 9222, fax: (03) 9482 9333.
Spot-welding aid
Pyrmo Dinitrol has released CU500, a copper spray, spot-welding aid and corrosion protector. With 38 per cent copper content, the copper spray is better suited as a weld-thru rust inhibitor and has less burn-up and fume emissions compared to zinc spray products now used.
Enquiries, AWD, tel: (03) 9553 1977, email: stork.awd@bigpond.com.au.
Japanese technology
Hirane has introduced a new generation of spot welders which offer more features and welding capabilities than ever before. With three available models, equipment can be adapted to suit any panel beating need. Hirane technology offers such features as a direct current full-wave transformer that doubles the power output and offers maximum efficiency.
The Hirane Auto-Spotter features a three-cable system for single spot welding by using a twin earth system and one electrode. Using this system, 20 per cent more current is passed through the weld, resulting in stronger and larger spot welds. The Hirane range can also weld through coated and painted surfaces such as OEM galvanised and E-coated panels, integral to the anti-corrosion properties of the modern vehicle. Panel beaters are aware that many underbody and paint coatings are difficult to remove from areas such as sill, floor and wheel arch panels but with Hirane's patented technology, it is possible to produce quality spot welds in these areas by providing only one surface of bare metal.
Other functions include rapid a dent-puller, washer and nail welding for heavy dent-pulling, welding of captive nuts and bolts, copper button shrinking, carbon rod re-tensioning and continuous edge roll welding.
Enquiries, Sydney Automotive Paints & Equipment, tel: (02) 9568 2233.
Reducing fumes and spatter
Surface Tension Transfer (STT) is a new approach to short-arc welding introduced by Lincoln Electric, which significantly reduces fumes and spatter and results in better welds.
The STT II process is neither constant voltage nor constant current, but is a welding mode where the electrode current is based on the instantaneous heat requirements of the arc.
By utilising Waveform Control Technology, STT II has the capability of delivering and changing electrode current in the order of microseconds. Precise control of the electrode current during the entire welding cycle minimises or eliminates the main disadvantages of conventional GMAW short arc welding.
The new STT II is an enhanced version of the original STT power source featuring tailout control. With tailout control, the STT II can operate at significantly higher deposition rates and faster travel speeds. Tailout control allows for more precise control of the weld bead contour, especially on high nickel alloys.
Enquiries, tel: Paul (02) 9772 7222.
Compact power
The Power Compact PC 205, an upgraded version of the discontinued PC 200, is now available from Esab Australia. Working off 240V mains, the unit provides superior performance for the welding of mild steel, stainless steel and aluminium. This entry level professional welder is ideal for light gauge sheet metal work such as vehicle repairs.
The PC 255, the three-phase version of the PC 205, has also been released. Both units feature a heavy duty intergrated feed system for worry-free feeding. Fine output voltage selection provides the user with superb arc control says Esab. Easy to set up, these Power Compacts allow the operator the flexibility of spot, stitch and continuous welding modes.
The PC 205 comes with the PSF 160 3m welding gun and the PC 255, the PSF 250 gun. Each welder comes with five metre mains lead, wheeling kit, gas hose, gas bottle shelf, return lead and clamp.
Enquiries, tel: (02) 9647 1232, fax: (02) 9748 1685, email: esabhelpdesk@ozemail.com.au.