Can Electromagnetic Welding Tables Improve Welding Accuracy and Efficiency?

[bigcarbonfoot]

Is it possible to turn my 20 square foot welding table into an elctromagnet? I weld steel cut nails into artwork. The nails lay flat on the steel table, but the welding process sometimes "shifts" the nail out of position during the spot weld. This error causes the process to be shut down, and then phisically remove the welded nail. I thought that if the table were a large electromagnet, the steel nails would stay in place as I weld. Considering that the welding table is grounded to the welding machine, does this complicate the matter?

 

[mattbrrtt]

I don't see any problem, as long as the electromagnet is isolated from your work. Permanent magnets are already used as temporary clamps for welding, so there should be no problems using a different source of magnetism.

 

[SirAskalot]

Possible shure, but magnetizing your mechanical workspace may cause frustration for later projects. Every fricking object will stick to the table.

You could rather magnetize your nails only.

 

[bigcarbonfoot]

electromagnet for this application would need to be on for an hour at a time. Could someone propose some specs for a 20 s.f. welding table?

 

[otto9K9otto]

You might want to look into electric discharge welding. This method of welding is instant. You attach one terminal to the (conductive) work piece, and the other terminal to your cut nail. Then, wearing goggles, touch the parts together and wait for the shower of sparks to settle. Done.

I have used the http://www.dcccorporation.com/hotspot2.html" for this purpose.

Otto

 

[Fish4Fun]

I assume what you want to happen is place an electromagnet beneath a sheet of steel. Regardless of what anyone says, this is going to prove problematic. I won't go into the "whys", just trust me when I tell you that the "practical" solution you are looking for is not "obvious". Can you achieve what you want? YES, ...can you do it as easily as putting a charged coil under your plate steel top, NO. Any way, if this continues, the real physics pros will define your new table-top, I am just telling you the simple solution you are looking for does not exist.

Fish

 

[bigcarbonfoot]

fish, thanks for your response. I'm using a wire feed welder (grounded to the welding table). My welding table is actually an 18 gage steel door. So the working distance between the proposed electromagnets and the stock that I am welding would be approx 1/16" (18 gage) sheet metal. On a similar application, one of my other welding tables is approx 3/8''cast steel.

 

[pantaz]

The magnetic field will interfere with the weld arc. I don't know specifically what the outcome would be. Try the http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/communities/mboard/forumdisplay.php?3-Welding-Discussions" forum.