Over the years welding technology has drastically evolved as a process, and so has the welding technology program. It finds its birth in 1750 AD during the industrial revolution in the form of forge welding. In the later years, resistance welding technology originated in 1886, which eventually led to the modern welding age. As a result, in recent years, there has been a growing demand for welders, and welding technology programs are predicted to contribute to about USD 10 billion by 2026.
Welding technology described in layman’s terms is a universally accepted methodology in the fabrication process for joining materials (mainly thermoplastics and metals) together. These materials individually are called workpieces. The working of the welding technology is based on the melting of the workpieces at the joining point and the addition of a filler material that facilitates the formation of the weld pool.
This leads to the formation of a sturdy joint between the two workpieces. Welding is crucial in manufacturing components of various industries likewise is a welding certification program for the students to learn better and be skilled before opting for fieldwork, and there is a growing demand for welding-related occupations.
Today there are several types of welding depending on the methods by which the workpieces are joined. Some prominent welding types are Arc, Gas, Resistance, energy beam, and solid-state welding. This article explores the recent technological advancements in the field of welding technology and also briefly focuses on how to become a qualified welder.
(i) Recent advancements in welding technology:
The recent advancements in welding and welding technology school include variations in friction; inertia, and advances in laser welding. In addition, there has been a rise in technologies like friction stir welding, laser welding, blue laser welding, and Advanced arc welding that have emerged recently and gained massive traction in the investments.
(ii) Welding Automation and Welding Robots:
Recently, the welding sector saw unprecedented improvements that have led to welding automation and the rise of welding robots. This results in faster production, better accuracy and ensures the safety of the workers associated with the industry.
(iii) Advanced Flash-butt welding machines:
These machines are associated with the rail welding technologies that have emerged that convert the conventional process to fully automated, highly accurate with enhanced quality with well-documented outputs that exhibit optimum performance even in extreme conditions.
(iv) Friction Stir welding:
A rotating tool presses the materials’ joint and transverses along the weld path wherein frictional heat is generated. This does not require any filler material and results in a high-quality solid weld. This method produces an output with almost negligible distortion, does not produce any fume or radiation, and is highly energy efficient.
(v) Laser Welding:
A process with high welding speed, low weld seams, and negligible thermal distortions, is a non-contact process with concentrated energy transfer that makes it energy efficient. This method is highly accurate and can be performed in all environmental conditions. The application extends from the production of medical equipment to electronics and jewelry.
(vi) Blue laser welding:
Since its emergence, the blue industrial laser has left an unmatched capability with high speeds for processing stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and copper. In addition, the outputs exhibited high quality and the ability to perform in the integrated process with automated production facilities.
(vii) Advanced Arc Welding:
In this method, with electric current usage, an electric arc is created between the material and electrode. The filler is then placed between the joints and is further melted with the help of heat. This process is mainly used in non-ferrous welding material and the welds produced are corrosion and cracking resistant, thus suitable for nuclear fuel canisters.
(viii) Hirebotics- the Cabot Welder System:
On April 21, 2021, Hirebotics’ Cobot Welder was introduced. Perceived as a significant leap in easy-to-use welding automation technology, Hirebotics combines the welding functionality of industrial-grade robots with ease of consumer-level use.
There are also other courses like welding that one should know of. This is an entirely user-friendly collaborative robot (cobot) with a welding system that enables automated welding deployments.
(ix) Infrared Welding Machine:
The recent advent of the Infra Guide IR welding system focuses on IR energy from small 100-watt emitters. These emitters heat the weld joint in two parts. Uniform energy distribution along the entire weld is achieved by independently adjusting each bulb.
The weld area is cleared by the application of positive pressure that eliminates any risk of fire. The Infra Guide tooling moves out of the way after the welds are heated and the parts are pressed together to weld. The company provides customized products depending on an individual user’s application. This machine can be made large or small, and modification of force that the user needs can also be fabricated accordingly.
(x) Black Polyamide Grades for Laser-Welding Applications:
Black Polyamide grades are an electro-friendly, laser-compatible material with sensitivity to corrosive applications. They are thin materials and enable laser welding to be carried out at higher speeds. They will predictably find a growing demand in Electrical vehicles’ manufacturing for sensor boxes, cases, and control units. Over and above, these materials are cost-effective as well.
Today’s welding industry has extended its applicability to massive industrial growth and is predicted to contribute about USD 10 billion by 2026. In the evolving world of technology, innovations in welding are guided and governed both by the needs of the industries using welding systems and the associated individual welders.
The growth rate of this technology as a primary manufacturing unit is approximately 8% per year. This future of welding technology holds immense growth and advancements. Therefore, a technical workforce acquainted with the dynamic knowledge of evolving technologies will play a crucial role in this sector.
PTTI is one of the prominent welding trade schools in PA with a unique curriculum of welding certification program as a part of the Welding Certification/apprenticeship Program will train you with the required skills and enable you to choose the career that you love.
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