Future of Welding

Abstract

IT is now known that the substitution of fabrication for casting is very advantageous to heavy-machine makers in a number of ways, mainly because it obviates the necessity of pattern-making. The time that would otherwise be lost in the foundry is considerable, especially when new patterns have to be evolved. In a leader on welding in the Electrical Review of September 29, it is stated that many electrical and allied manufacturers are now using welding on a fairly large scale. Some of them go so far as to design and make their own welding equipment. There are on a conservative estimate about forty manufacturers of electric welding machines in Great Britain and there are nearly as many suppliers of rectifiers for welding and thermionic valve control devices. Besides, there are one or two factories which make holding frames for rotating or otherwise manipulating the welding work being done. It is probable that not more than about a quarter of the known applications of welding are utilized in industry. The large amount of research being done is shown in the second progress report of the Institute of Welding. Further evidence is given of the increased applications by the issue of official regulations and specifications for welded steelwork by national bodies in many countries. Some manufacturers think that the welding industry may ultimately employ as much capital and labour as the steel industry now does. Such considerations apply equally to shipyards, and remembering the inherent water, oil and gas tightness of welded vessels, the rate of advance in the use of welding in shipyards will doubtless advance more rapidly in the future. The progressive widening of applications is producing fresh problems. Large-scale operations indicate the desirability of carrying out as much as possible of the actual welding in specially devised workshops rather than at the shipbuilding berth. This requirement will sometimes entail the re-design of component sections to render them more transportable and also the provision of suitable and adequate manipulative and adequate lifting equipment.