New? Spin with GMAW/FCAW

By ssbn727 (*****)

Date 11-15-2015 10:15

A new spin on welding - GMAW technology improves joining by rotating the wire—quickly
THE FABRICATOR® OCTOBER 2015 - October 19, 2015 - By: Tim Heston

http://www.thefabricator.com/article/arcwelding/a-new-spin-on-welding

Tandem Spin-Arc Process Development for Agile Fillet Welding of Ship Structures

http://www.nsrp.org/3-RA-Panel_Final_Reports/2003_Tandem_Spin_Arc_Final_Report.pdf

A new spin on welding? The Revolution has begun according to this company…

SpinArcTM welding torches create a superior welding experience through the use of a high speed rotating welding arc.
This unique rotating arc welding process enables welding all metals in any position. This can be achieved by using solid or metal-cored wires in spray transfer or pulse modes. Out-of-position welding is made possible by the surface tension created from the high-speed rotation.

http://www.weldrevolution.com/

This process variant also had an article published in the AWS Welding Journal, June 2015.

More articles: http://www.weldrevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Welding-Productivity-Article-July-August-2015.pdf

http://www.weldrevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/World-Pipelines-Article-January-2015.pdf

Bottom line is that this is a new type of torch to improve an already established welding process and my only 2 questions would be this: 1.) Who are their customers so far that are using this torch? (2.) Has this torch been tested using FCAW?

This torch could be a relatively new tool that could potentially greatly enhance the quality of GMAW and possibly FCAW deposits. :cool:

What do my colleagues think about this new tool?

Respectfully,
Henry

By electrode (***)

Date 11-15-2015 11:58

Similar to the "New Welding Process" thread.
Marketing appears to be paid well around the globe for figuring out ways to transform old into new.

See: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4441011.pdf

And this patent again seems based upon another (Japanese) one from 1980.
Hence, I personally seem to recall that this '1980/1984' established technology has been tested in narrow groove welding during the European heyday of heavy wall pressure vessels applied to nuclear power stations. Since being 'GMAW' however, it has never come to a considerable breakthrough and could never practically outperform SAW - which, if memory serves well, was used for welding vessels ≤ 690 mm wall thickness.

Then, to add to your questions, since presuming that the "new welding torch" principle uses some gear drive to rotate the contact tube:

- How about torch durability when applied to high performance output applications?

By the way and not to forget. Great to see you back on board of this forum!

By ssbn727 (*****)

Date 11-15-2015 23:27

From what I have read so far, this type of GMAW torch isn't meant to be used for such heavy wall thicknesses that would require more than 400 amperes... I mean it's rated @ 400Amps so of course it couldn't compete with SAW(Submerged Arc Welding) when many SAW applications require the use in excess of 400 amps...

On another note, the patent you listed is for a rotating nozzle type GMAW torch assembly which is not the same as being able to rotate the wire electrode @ relatively high rpm's... Therefore stirring the actual weld pool or puddle before the weld deposit solidifies as opposed to rotating the welding nozzle only... Resulting in limited control of the electrode placement in the weld pool relative to the electrode spin diameter...

Have you read the article I posted in my initial post regarding the R&D on Spin Arc technology by EWI to be used in the agile fillet welding of complicated ship structures yet? Here's the link:

http://www.nsrp.org/3-RA-Panel_Final_Reports/2003_Tandem_Spin_Arc_Final_Report.pdf

Btw, thank you for your welcome back as well and then my thanks also go to the rest of my friends here... You all know who you are, Al, Allan, Brent, Kent. Milton, Stony, Tommyjoking and whoever else I forgot to list... This and other posts does encourage me to get well ASAP!

Respectfully,
Henry

P.S. Hey Glynn, you didn't surprise me with your reply in a previous post my friend so, thank you for your prayers and well wishes. :cool:

By ssbn727 (*****)

Date 11-15-2015 12:33

Here are some more .pdf's covering some of the welding economics and other comparisons without using the SpinArc torch:

Thick-Plate-Single-Bevel-T-Joint-Productivity-Comparison

http://www.weldrevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Thick-Plate-Single-Bevel-T-Joint-Productivity-Comparison.pdf

Thick-Plate-Butt-Joint-Productivity-Comparison

http://www.weldrevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Thick-Plate-Butt-Joint-Productivity-Comparison.pdf

Thick-Plate-Corner-Productivity-Comparison

http://www.weldrevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Thick-Plate-Corner-Productivity-Comparison.pdf

Vertical down 625 Overlay for for waterwalls in power boilers:

http://www.weldrevolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/CRA-3G-Productivity-Comparision.pdf

Here's a video of the product which btw, shows that their claim of not needing anything else but the spinarc torch isn't quite as accurate as one might assume :roll:

:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rih-Z4hyeOw&feature=youtu.be

Sorry but I went to sleep for a while and when I woke up, the posting page I was on was still waiting for me to post. :eek:

That's it for now. :smile:

Respectfully,
Henry

And here is a video of the Cloos Narrow gap welding system which is different than the SpinArc technology:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEe2ZoE4m2M

SpinArc 5G pipe welding:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ_t47hW2Rg

"Game Changing Productivity" - Clad Overlay (SpinArc - Vertical Down) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ypRMYEdMXE

SpinArc -- Diameter & Speed Demonstration:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23r348Rej4g

By Lawrence (*****)

Date 11-16-2015 02:25

I met Mr. Funderburk this week at Fabtech and watched some vertical groove demos with "Weld Revolution"

It's the real thing, and does indeed directly attempt to compete with SAW in the market of CJP's on unprepped square grooves of various thicknesses.

I'm interested in manual and "Bugo" style units.

He is going to set up some manual splice trials with copper backing as a demonstration.

The macros look good, but I question how robust the units would be over thousands of hours compared to AC SAW doing similar production.

Good post Henry!