Butt Welding

Questions and Answers

Butt welding is a joining process used to join two parts together. The work acts as the electrode and the entire cross section is welded. The parts are clamped and brought together with force and a current is applied. The intention is to create heat using Joules Law H= I2rt at the joint surface with current flow. As the joint heats up the force upsets the joint and a bulged area is formed. The current is stopped. The weld area cools under force and then the force is removed and the butt weld is complete.
A frequently used process for butt welding is welding metal rod ends together in a metal rod or wire mill. As each butt weld is made the resultant flash or upset material is mechanically removed for ease of drawing through the draw die. Multiple rod ends are welded end to end and then drawn through a draw die to size the rod to a slightly smaller size. It is frequently coiled on a coiler as it is drawn. When the desired numbers of rods have been welded together, the resultant coil is then drawn through a series of smaller dies until it is at the desired finish size. This is how rod is turned into a coil of wire. The welds are fast reliable and repeatable. The butt welds are virtually indiscernible.

Read more ...

Butt welding is a joining process used to join two parts together. The work acts as the electrode and the entire cross section is welded. After the parts are clamped and brought together with force a current is applied. The intention is to create heat using Joules Law H= I2rt at the joint surface with current flow. As the joint heats up the force upsets the joint and a bulged area is formed. The current is stopped. The weld area cools under force and then the force is removed and the butt weld is complete.  In flash welding the current is applied before the parts are brought together.  This creates the flash.

Rods are welded end to end and then drawn into large wire coils using this process. It is fast reliable and repeatable. The bulged/upset material is normally removed by mechanical means. Grinding tools or files are frequently used for this.

Read more ...

JOULES LAW STATES:

Joules Law

In this equation the current, resistance and time are the variables. The controller or timer can alter both the time and the current. The resistance of the parts being welded is fixed but the resistance can be changed by altering the force/pressure used in the welding process. The question is which will have the largest affect upon the process.  The answer is the current (I).

Read more ...

Per the definition of the Resistance Welding Manufacturers Alliance:

RESISTANCE WELDING IS THE JOINING OF METALS BY APPLYING
PRESSURE
AND PASSING
CURRENT
FOR A LENGTH OF
TIME
THROUGH THE METAL AREA WHICH IS TO BE JOINED

            Reference: RWMA - Resistance Welding Manual 4th Edition

 

Group B materials is a designation of the Resistance Welding Manufacturers Alliance (RWMA).  It describes a group of Tungsten/Copper materials with high strength and good electrical conductivity.  Their main feature is high strength at high temperatures.  Their properties make them excellent materials to use in the resistance welding industry as electrodes at high heat and forces.

Read more ...

Have a Question?

Do you have a question that is not covered in our knowledgebase? Do you have questions regarding the above article? Click here to ask the professor.