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14 Tips to Minimize Welding Distortion Subscribe to Email Updates
Posted by CAMM Metals on Aug 5, 2017 1:15:00 PM Email*

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During the welding process, the weld Subscribe

metal and the adjacent base metal will

expand and contract throughout the
heating and cooling cycle. During these
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cycles, it’s inevitable that some
distortion will occur due to the What's the Difference Between

movement of the metal. However, it’s Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel?

important to take steps to minimize this The Importance of CAD Models for

distortion whenever possible. Here are some tips to minimize welding distortion. Metal Fabrication Projects
6 Tips to Optimize Your Design for a
Metal Fabrication Project
1. Size of Weld
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 It’s important to avoid overwelding. The bigger the weld, the greater the shrinkage that will 4 Reasons to Avoid the Cheapest
occur. Ensuring that the weld has been correctly sized will minimize distortion and save Metal Fabrication Quote
weld metal and time. Tips to Find a Connecticut Laser
Cutting Services Partner
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2. Intermittent Welding
Steel for Fabrication Projects?
Intermittent welding, rather than continuous welds will minimize the amount of weld metal What are the Different Options for
used. This will, in turn, minimize the distortion during the welding process. Metal Finishing?
An Overview for Beginners: What is
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3. Fewer Weld Passes Sheet Metal Design: Tips and Tricks

During the welding process, shrinkage will accumulate with every weld pass. Therefore, a 4 Common Misconceptions About

fewer number of passes will result in less distortion. Try to perform a small number of big Pricing for Metal Fabrication

weld passes rather than a large number of small passes.

4. Welding Placement
It’s important to place welds near the neutral axis or center of the part. This placement will
result in less leverage for shrinkage forces to pull plates out of alignment. Avoiding pulling
the plates out of alignment will minimize the distortion of the product.

5. Balance Around the Neutral Axis

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 Balancing your welds around the neutral axis of the product and weld on both sides of the
plate in order to offset one shrinkage force with another. This balance will minimize
distortion, as the forces will counteract each other.

6. Backstep Welding Technique

Using the backstep welding technique involves generally welding left to right, while
depositing each bead segment right to left. As each bead segment is placed, the heated
edges expand, temporarily separating the plates. However, as the heat moves out,
expansion along the edges brings the plates back together. Successive beads cause the
plates to expand less and less throughout the process because of the restraint that the
prior welds cause. This technique minimizes distortion as the welding process goes on.

7. Presetting Parts
Through a few trial welds at the beginning, you can determine the amount of preset
required for prior welds. You can then use this information to preset parts before welding in
order to make the shrinkage work for you. This control of shrinkage will minimize the
distortion of your product.

8. Alternate Welding Sequence

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 A carefully planned welding sequence can help minimize distortion. During assembly, the
structure will shrink in one place, counteracting the shrinkage in another. This
counteraction will create a balance that will prevent distortion.

9. Clamping
Using clamps will lock parts into the desired position and hold them until the welding is
nished. Although removing the clamps can cause minimal distortion, it will cause
signi cantly less distortion than movement during welding.

10. Peening
Peening is the process of striking a product with the back part of a hammer. Peening the
weld bead will stretch it and relieve stresses, minimizing distortion. However, it should be
performed carefully and not executed on the nal pass where it can cover a possible crack.

11. Thermal Stress Relief

Another technique to relieve stress in order to minimize distortion is thermal stress relief.
This process involves controlled heating of the weldment to an elevated temperature
followed by a controlled cooling. This control of temperature will reduce stresses pulling on
the product.

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 12. Minimize Welding Time
The longer the welding process takes, the greater the chance for distortion. Minimizing
your welding time is a good way to reduce welding distortion. Use of mechanized welding
equipment will reduce the welding time and distortion.

13. Water-Cooled Jig

Using a water-cooled jig is an effective tool in minimizing distortion in sheet metal welding.
The tool carries heat away from the welded components and circulates water through the
tubes during welding. Clamps are also used in this process to minimize the distortion.

14. Strongback
A strongback is a tool used to control distortion during butt-welding of plates. Clips are
welded to the edge of one plates, while wedges are driven under the clips to force the
edges into alignment while holding them during welding. This tool can help reduce
distortion in this speci c welding process.

CAMM Metals | CT Welding Services

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 In order to ensure your welding comes with minimal distortion, call int he professionals! As
a CT welding contractor, we specialize in MIG & TIG welding of Steel, Stainless Steel and
Aluminum and use Pulsed welding machines to help control the heat put into a part,
minimize distortion, and improve the quality of the parts we produce.

After the welding is complete, we offer many in-house services. These services include,
weld inspection with dye penetrant, acid cleaning and polishing of stainless steel welds.
Additionally, we are also able to weld and test watertight enclosures.For those customers
who require certi ed welds, we can certify our welds to AWS D1.1 & AWS D1.6.

Topics: Metal Fabrication, Welding, Welding Distortion

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 Copper Slag Manufacturer India
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