Broken parts and equipment do not necessarily mean you need to order a new part. Under some circumstances, the busted component can be quickly and professionally welded in order to successfully get you back in business. The next consideration is to choose the right welder to perform the job. Not a lot of custom machine shops offer welding as a means of repair, so your best bet is to find a company with staff who keep up on the best processes and are in continual practice of the craft.
Do you know what to look for in a professional welding service?
Machine shops perform a variety of repair work. Some don’t specialize in offering welding as a solution because they would much rather machine a new part, while others may be out of practice. Look for a company which routinely performs this type of repair and offers a guarantee on the workmanship and materials used. Some of the better companies will tell you up front if the item needing repairs will hold a weld or if it can’t and needs to be replaced. Using a reputable service can help you to avoid paying for repairs which might not hold up when you go to use the equipment. Using a shoddy service can end up costing you in repair bills, lost work and delayed production time.
Considerations Knowledgeable Welders Take Into Account
Skilled welders work to best match the materials utilized in welding repairs with the methods being used, as each welding process involves the use of specific materials and techniques; some of which are more ideal than others for certain tasks. These affect the strength of the weld and the appearance of the repaired item when the process is finished. The weld must penetrate the existing materials on the damaged item with the least amount of air pockets, gaps in the weld or pores which can form if the welder is not careful. These conditions can cause a rejection of the weld or weakening of the part being repaired.
Different Types of Welding Processes
Metal arc welding uses a metal filler wire which is made from the same material as the item being repaired and is applied with a gas torch. An electric current is picked up by the welding wire and it creates an arc which forms the weld. The wire is constantly fed upwards and serves as an electrode for the power supply which constantly feeds the materials along with the current producing the arc. Advantages of this type of welding process include it being easy to learn and it produces one of the nicest finishes in the shortest amount of time. It can be used for most types of metal of all sorts of varying thicknesses.
Flux cored welding makes use of a self-shielded wire which contains a flux core. This method is recommended for welding thicker materials and is best suited for outdoor welding projects, rusty materials and provides a thicker weld than the metal arc process. For more information about welding in Minneapolis, you can get in touch with the reputable service found at Rother Machine Inc.
