Orbital Welding

1

It’s Clean

It’s important to keep contaminants away from metal tubing during the welding process, as impurities trapped inside could ruin an entire process, resulting in a significant waste of time and money. Orbital welding is typically performed in a cleanroom setting, where tubes and fittings can be welded in a high-purity, contaminant-free environment.

2

It’s Efficient

Because the welds created are consistent and clean, the entire welding process becomes more efficient. Computerized orbital welding can make the process even more efficient, as the whole process can be scheduled ahead of time and documented. This decreases production time and overall costs.

3

It’s More Productive

Orbital welding is a much more productive use of labor, as the machinery is doing the majority of the work. Though there are upfront costs to acquire the appropriate equipment, it cuts down on labor requirements and lead time in the long run.

4

It Produces Better Quality Welds

While skilled manual welders can certainly create high-quality welds for specific purposes, an orbital weld performed using the right equipment and settings will always result in a better quality weld. This is crucial in applications within the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries, where there are strict requirements to be met.

5

It Produces Consistent Welds

While manual welds performed by a skilled technician can be accurate, orbital welding will always produce more consistent welds. This is due to the ability to set the orbital welding equipment to a specific program, allowing the system to repeat the exact same welds over and over again, without error or defects. With manual welding, by nature, there is always some level of variability and inconsistency between welds.

6

It Doesn’t Require Certification

With a considerable shortage of certified welders in the field today, it can be difficult to find manual welders with the necessary certifications and expertise to perform manual welding operations. Orbital welding, however, doesn’t require certification, as the equipment can be operated by a skilled technician trained in welding.

7

It Solves Unique Problems

Orbital welding is also great for unique manufacturing situations, such as in cases where it is not feasible or practical to rotate a piece of tubing or pipe to be welded. It may also be used in cases where welding must be performed in a tight space that wouldn’t be possible with manual welding.

8

It Shortens Lead Time for Large Projects

When multiple identical welds are being performed via a machine, you can test a sample weld, rather than having to test every single weld. Since the machine is repeating the weld automatically, the integrity of the sample weld should hold true for all of the welds thereafter.

Bottom Line

For smaller welding projects or projects where refined and precise welding is required, manual welding serves its purpose. However, in the case of larger projects where multiple and identical welds are required, orbital welding can save a significant amount of time in many aspects of the operation. The result is lower overhead costs, higher quality welds, and shorter lead times.

Aerospace

Hydraulic lines, liquid- and gas delivery systems, and medical systems all require tubing with termination fittings. Orbital systems provide a means to ensure high productivity of welding and optimum weld quality,

Boiler Tube

Boiler-tube installation and repair offer perfect applications for orbital welding. Compact orbital weld heads can be clamped in place between rows of heat-exchanger tubing.

Food, Dairy and Beverage Industries

These industries require consistent full penetration welds on all weld joints. For maximum piping-system efficiency, the tubing and tube welds must be as smooth as possible. Any pit, crevice, crack, or incomplete weld joint can trap the fluid flowing inside the tubing, becoming a harbor for bacteria.

Nuclear Piping

The nuclear industry, with its severe operating environment and associated specifications for high-quality welds, has long been an advocate of orbital welding.

Offshore Applications

Sub-sea hydraulic lines use materials whose properties can be altered during the thermal changes that accompany a typical weld cycle. Hydraulic joints welded with orbital equipment offer superior corrosion resistance and mechanical properties.

Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceutical process lines and piping systems deliver high-quality water to their processes. This requires high-quality welds to ensure a source of water from the tubes uncontaminated by bacteria, rust, or other contaminants. Orbital welding ensures full-penetration welds with no overheating that could undermine the corrosion resistance of the final weld zone.

Semiconductor Industry

The semiconductor industry requires piping systems with extremely smooth internal surface finish to prevent contaminant buildup on the tubing wall or weld joints. Once large enough, a build-up of particulate, moisture, or contaminant could release and ruin the batch process.

Tube/pipe fittings, valves, and regulators

Hydraulic lines, liquid- and gas delivery systems, and medical systems all require tubing with termination fittings. Orbital systems provide a means to ensure high productivity of welding and optimum weld quality.