TIG WeldingThe TIG welding process was first developed in 1939 by the Northrop Aircraft Company under the name 'Heliarc' and the original application was for the welding of magnesium castings for aircraft parts. The process is now widely known as Tungsten Inert Gas, or TIG, although it may sometimes be called 'Argonarc', or, less frequently now, 'Heliarc', while in the USA it is known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding or GTAW. The TIG is not a high productivity process, but is capable of producing very high quality welds in a wide range of materials and in thicknesses up to about 8 or 10mm. It is particularly suited to welding of sheet material and for putting in the root run of pipe butt welds. Welding may be carried out either manually, semi or fully automated. The process tends to be very clean, producing little particulate fume, although it is capable of generating ozone in appreciable amounts.
|
