When people mention high pressure fittings, the heads of some individuals go towards the realm of corsets.
Well, not all such fittings come with trimmings of velvet and lace -- some are firmly tethered to the domains of steel piping, high temperatures, and welding. For the uninitiated and pressed for a working definition of the welding process, it might be sufficient to say that it is the joining of metals (usually) or thermoplastics (increasingly) by way of coalescence, and that it is achieved via the studied formation of joints through melted work pieces and material filling.
Butt welding, or the making of a butt weld, is known for its difficulty of execution. In AudenlHVAC Fundamentals: Volume 2, James E.
Brumbaugh outlines the eight steps of butt welding. In a paraphrase of Brumbaugh, the eight steps of butt welding are: (1) properly machining pipe ends in preparation for the butt-welding joint (2) cleaning pipe ends, joints and sockets by removing grease and other foreign materials (3) aligning and affixing the weld in place (4) before the application of heat, checking that the valve is in the open position, that the valve bonnet is "hand-tight," and that any nonmetallic discs have been removed (5) ensuring proper support of pipe during welding and eliminating extraneous straining during cooling (6) preheating the welding area to a temperature between 400°F and 500°F (7) proceeding through the requisite two to four passes that will complete the process (8) removing discoloration with a cloth and brush.
Although the above describes a standard procedure, not everyone employs it. Today, in parts production there is increased use in the application of computer numerical control, otherwise known as CNC machining equipment. This technology has been around for nearly seventy years and comprises machine-tool automation. Newer iterations of the technology, naturally, no longer make much use punched tape. Today, CNC methods are favored because of their capacity for repeatability and the refined quality that it imparts to its production output.
Welders who known their industry are usually knowledgeable about both methods. What are your preferences when it comes to butt and pipe welding?
Sam Walters is a writer living in Los Angeles. Her writing appears in print and online.
Richard A. Manfredi has written about www.procladgroup.com . Proclad Group is a global manufacturer of internally clad line pipe, fittings, flanges, vessels, and other well-head components. Specializes in pipe fabricating, including induction bending, pipe cladding, and weld overlay.
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