Oxford Sensors announces a new integrated head and controls for Submerged Arc Welding

Oxford   Sensors   Ltd   (OSL),   Bicester,   UK   announces   the   release   of   a new   fully   integrated   system   for   tandem   or   triple   submerged   arc welding. The new system incorporates several innovations: 1.      A   completely   new   weld   head   design   which   is   easy   to   set   up   and adjust,   and   which   integrates   up   to   three   torches   together   with   flux delivery and recovery, laser seam tracking and video camera. 2.   Modular   design   for   ease   of   using   the   key   components   in   several mill   locations.      The   new   head   has   already   been   installed   on   several pipe   mill   applications.      For   spiral   pipe   offline   ID   welding,   it   can   be mounted   on   a   new   OSL   boom-end   frame   incorporating   horizontal and   vertical   slides   with   space   for   up   to   three   wire   feeders.      For   spiral pipe   OD   welding   or   other   similar   applications,   the   new   head   can   be mounted   on   an   OSL   slide   assembly   together   with   up   to   three   wire feeders for single, tandem or triple arc operation. 3.      A   new   integrated   control   system   allows   all   parts   of   the   system operation   to   be   controlled   from   a   single   station.      The   new   control station   can   be   used   for   simultaneous   control   of   ID   and   OD   weld heads for spiral pipe offline welding from a single station. 4.   The   new   system   is   based   on   a   network   architecture   allowing   it   to be     easily     used     with     welding     power     sources     from     leading manufacturers.

According   to   Bob   Beattie,   of   OSL,   “Over   the   last   twenty-five   years,   we   have   developed   a   lot   of   experience   in   pipe   mill   welding   and other   similar   applications.      So   when   we   had   the   opportunity   to   put   that   experience   to   work   in   designing   this   new   system   we   were very   excited   by   the   possibilities.      After   a   lot   of   intensive   effort   in   design   and   on   proving   trials,   we   are   very   pleased   with   the results.” The photo shows the design superimposed over one of the heads mounted for spiral offline ID welding.