Welding

Welding stainless steel

Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, mostly metals, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool, causing fusion. It is a widely used technique in the fabrication of equipment such as tubes or heat exchangers.

Latest welding news

Below you can find the latest newsitems that involve the topic of welding.

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3D Printing for the marine industry

The marine industry in general has been slow to embrace the 3D printing concept. The use of continuous liquid metal deposition under computer numerical control has created opportunities to produce complex shapes such as forgings and castings whilst avoiding the need for expensive tooling and the time delays in fabricating moulds. Notwithstanding this slow start, development work at Delft Technical University in 2017 has led to the production of the world’s first metal deposited marine propeller.

MaX: The new normal for ‘Body-in-White’

Starting in the 1990s and accelerating ever since the automobile industry has been defined by a revolution in innovation. From the internal combustion engine to the complete electric vehicle and the in-between hybrid, power train technologies are in a state of constant evolution. But innovation doesn’t stop with the engine.

UR10e cobot to power the Vectis Cobot Welding Tool

Vectis Automation has chosen Universal Robots’ UR10e cobot to power the Vectis Cobot Welding Tool launching at FABTECH 2019 in Chicago, giving smaller weld shops a low-risk, easy solution to increase weld capacity, quality, and stability.

New compounds from LANXESS for laser welding

Laser transmission welding is also known as laser welding is a method employed for joining plastic parts. It enables even very small components with complex geometries to be produced in a cost-efficient and resource-friendly manner, making it part of the growing trend toward the miniaturization of electrical and electronic functions.

Sandvik announces a new working partnership with Serck

Sandvik’s team based in Dubai has announced a new working partnership with heat exchanger manufacturer Serck Services (Gulf) based in Sharjah, UAE.

Stalatube opens new stainless steel processing facility

Stalatube Oy of Lahti, Finland, has invested a total of EUR 20M in the past two years, of which EUR 7M has been invested in a production facility in Poland.

ASIPP develops a large-scale vacuum EBW system

The Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) has developed a large-scale vacuum electron beam welding (EBW) system, including China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) vacuum vessel collar as a pre-research part completed by this system, and it has passed the expert acceptance test recently.

Xiris celebrates its 30th anniversary

Xiris celebrated its 30th anniversary as of September 2019. The business was initially set up to commercialize the budding technology of machine vision, where cameras are used to acquire images of manufactured goods and send them to computers for processing.

Turnkey solution for precision metal parts welding

The new Coherent ExactWeld 230 is a turnkey solution for automated, precision laser welding of metal parts. It includes a 200 W (400 W optional) fiber laser, part clamping, up to four-axis (x, y, z, c), user-friendly software, an optional vision system, and factory automation capabilities (Industry 4.0/IIoT ready).

BIG KAISER releases new inserts for its indexable tools

BIG KAISER, the premium high-precision tooling systems and solutions for the metalworking industry, has released a new set of insert grades for its indexable tools—C-Cutter Mini, C-Centering Cutter and Fullcut Mill.


Stainless steel is a popular material in various industries due to its corrosion resistance, durability, and aesthetic appeal. Here are some key points to consider when welding stainless steel:

Choose the appropriate welding process: There are several welding processes suitable for stainless steel, including Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding, and Stick welding (Shielded Metal Arc Welding). TIG welding is often preferred for stainless steel due to its precision and ability to produce high-quality welds.

Prepare the materials: Before welding, it’s important to clean the stainless steel surfaces to remove any contaminants, such as oil, grease, or dirt. Use a stainless steel wire brush or a dedicated solvent to clean the area.

Select the appropriate filler material: When welding stainless steel, it’s generally recommended to use a filler metal that matches or is compatible with the base metal. Commonly used filler materials for stainless steel welding include austenitic stainless steel filler rods or wires, such as ER308, ER309, or ER316.

Set the welding parameters: The welding parameters, such as current, voltage, travel speed, and shielding gas flow rate, will depend on the thickness of the stainless steel and the specific welding process being used.

Ensure proper shielding gas: Stainless steel welding typically requires the use of an inert gas, such as argon or a mixture of argon and helium, to create a protective atmosphere around the weld and prevent oxidation. The shielding gas should be supplied continuously and cover the weld pool adequately.

Maintain good joint fit-up and control heat input: Stainless steel has a relatively low thermal conductivity compared to other metals, so it’s essential to control the heat input during welding. Proper joint fit-up, including gap and root opening, helps control distortion and ensures proper fusion.

Post-weld treatment: Stainless steel welds may require post-weld treatment to restore corrosion resistance. This can involve processes such as passivation or pickling, which remove any oxides or contaminants from the welded area. The specific post-weld treatment will depend on the application and the stainless steel grade used.

It’s important to note that welding stainless steel can be complex, and there may be additional considerations depending on the specific application, grade of stainless steel, and welding codes and standards. If you’re not experienced in welding stainless steel, it’s advisable to consult with a professional welder or seek training to ensure proper techniques and safety precautions are followed.