Aluminum - welding and working with material

Welding of aluminum parts has its own difficulties. Due to the high thermal conductivity, as well as the low melting point and the decrease in the heating strength, aluminum welding can have problems such as melting of welded parts, burning or the formation of "hot cracks".

For various alloys, based on aluminum, welding can be different. Alloys are considered non-weldable if attempts lead to hot cracking. Welded structures are chosen for deformable compounds. And it is better to weld and have corrosion resistance alloys that are not hardened by thermal treatment, although their mechanical strength is low. Strengthened by heat treatment, on the contrary, have a higher strength, but are welded much worse and less resistant to corrosion.

Before welding it is recommended to heat aluminum, welding due to its fusibility should be carried out very quickly.

To avoid these complications, the surfaces of aluminum parts must be thoroughly cleaned before welding from moisture, oil products, lubricating fluids, etc., wiping with a solvent. It is also necessary to clean the surface of the parts with a metal brush, destroying the layer of oxide film, which is covered with aluminum. Welding should be performed soon after cleaning. This will achieve maximum quality.

Because of these features, it is worth remembering a few rules. The main thing is creating aluminum constructions, it is better to use butt joints and try to keep welds further away from each other in order to avoid getting "hot cracks".

The most widespread of the existing methods of welding aluminum structures in Russia is the argon-arc method. But in terms of performance, it is inferior to inverter welding.

The inverter is a new generation device. There are both industrial models, and for home use. It is more compact than a conventional welding machine, operates at a high-frequency current and does not require a powerful transformer. Because of its advantages, welding aluminum inverters is becoming more popular.

When choosing a semiautomatic device for aluminum welding, it is important to consider how much work needs to be done, and it is purchased for production or household purposes.

Having a large number of additional capabilities, the industrial model will be difficult to operate for home use. For these purposes, a simple inverter with a current range of 140-180 amps, single-phase or three-phase, will fit, depending on the needs.

For production it is necessary to use three-phase inverters at 315 amperes. They have sufficient power to provide connective structures on a large scale and quantities.

In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the configuration and additional functions, which will ensure strong aluminum. Welding will not affect its strength and reliability. With the help of quality devices you can build excellent designs and achieve a long process of their operation.