France-based Polysoude has tailored a welding solution for a Russian supplier of pressure-vessels to bring in line the required productivity and security that the company desires. This company, manufacturing its pressure-vessels has an export ratio of 80%. A joining system was drafted – made using standard mechanised components – offering the optimal welding technique, the optimal procedure combination for any wall thickness, for any diameter and for any material type. This system uses either the plasma or TIG-welding process or both combined. An integrated camera allows the visual control of the welding process. The sections consist throughout low-alloyed or austenitic steel. Their length ranges between 1000 and 3000mm, their diameters between 800 and 1500mm and their wall thickness between five and 40mm. Polysoude defined to the user exactly the most productive process for every application and developed the corresponding weld programmes. For components with butt weld preparation and wall thicknesses up to 8mm, the plasma welding with cold wire is suitable. For bigger wall thicknesses, the following procedure combination takes effect: the root is welded with plasma/cold-wire process, the filler and cap pass with the hot-wire TIG process. Depending on material and material thickness, welding speeds reach between 60 and 250mm per minute; the number of welding passes is small; the controlled heat input is assured at any time. The scope of delivery includes: power source 600 PC; plasma torch with wire feeder; TIG hotwire torch with wire feeder; camera; and column & boom with motorised compound slide rest for Arc Voltage Control (AVC) and Torch Oscillation Control (OSC) and an Alternatively positioner/rotator.
