Month: August 2019

Breaking Down the Technical Numbers of Welding Studs

Posted on by norfas by norfas

At Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), we’re dedicated to providing a comprehensive supply of welding studs, stud welding tools, and our own expertise and services. We understand that stud welding is used for an incredibly wide range of fabrication purposes, and each application requires a specific set of tools and studs to accurately complete the job. Because of this, we offer studs meeting all your needs for dimension, material, length, threading, and more. NFS also provides custom stud specifications and works directly with our customers to supply the studs they need. When it comes to welding studs and welding tools, NFS is your one-stop-shop for the services you need.

 

The range of different welding studs is broad and it can be difficult to choose the exact specifications you need. To make things more complicated, the technical numbers of welding studs are hard to unpack. Those who have worked in the stud welding industry have a better understanding of stud part numbers, but for others less familiar, a breakdown of this information can be useful.

 

The part number of any kind of stud follows the same general sequence that will give you the key to the majority of studs you may encounter. Using a sizing of this drawn arc welding stud as an example, you can see how the NFS version of that sequence operates:

 

The part number is: ARC MS FT 006 07

 

ARC: This indicates that the stud is designed for use in drawn arc stud welding

MS: This tells you the part is made from mild steel

FT: This indicates the stud is fully-threaded.

006: This refers to the threading, which in this case is ¼-20

07: This indicates the stud length, which in this case is 1⅛”

 

Understanding the system of part numbers is important, but understanding the sizing numbers themselves is also key.

 

Thread Sizes: The numerical sizing of threads is based on a diameter and per-inch system. In the case of the listed drawn arc welding stud, the ¼-20 means there are 20 threads per inch on a ¼” nominal diameter. The distance between each thread is the reciprocal of the thread-per-inch, so for this stud, the distance between threads is 1/20 of an inch.

 

Lengths: Thread lengths are a simpler system. The stud length is 1⅛ inches. This length is listed as before it is welded. Because the stud diameter in this case is less than ½”, the length will be about ⅛” shorter after the weld. For studs with diameter of ⅝” to ⅞” the post-weld length will be about 3/16” shorter, and 1” diameters and above will have a post-weld length that is about ¼” shorter.

 

The flexibility of sizing for welding studs is a broad one, but NFS can help you determine exactly what you need. To learn more about welding stud sizes and our services, contact us at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online today.

Drawn Arc Stud Welding Highlights from Start to Finish

Posted on by norfas by norfas

Drawn arc welding is a complex process made simple with today’s technology. Though welding has been around for centuries, beginning with the oldest forge welding to today’s capacitor discharge welding, it hadn’t begun development into the highly advanced process contemporary welders use until the late 1970s. Thanks to the advancement of welding techniques since then, we are able to utilize both drawn arc and capacitor discharge processes to perform stud welding operations. If you are working on a CD or drawn arc stud welding project, Northland Fastening Systems has everything you need from tools for rent and sale, studs of all shapes and sizes, stud welding accessories, and our own welding services.

 

When it comes to the traditional format of drawn arc stud welding, there are several stages of the procedure to take into consideration. First, the welding operation itself, which follows a simple step-by-step process:

 

  1. The welding gun is set onto the base material at the desired weld point and the operator compresses the main spring partially.
  2. The trigger is then compressed, and the stud is lifted magnetically from the base material to create an arc.
  3. The arc melts the stud tip and the base material while a ceramic ferrule shield concentrates the heat, containing it to one weld point.
  4. The stud is then compressed into the base material, melding the two molten metal components.
  5. The welding gun releases the stud, the ferrule is broken, and the welding process is complete.

 

A drawn arc stud welding process creates a bond that is stronger than the stud itself. As welding processes go, drawn arc welding is one of the most effective, fastest, and strongest operations for stud welding manufacturing. For even more effective, accurate drawn arc stud welding, templating is a highly useful procedure.

 

Templates improve the accuracy of a welding operation that uses a ceramic ferrule to contain the heat during the arc. Steel plates hold the ferrule in place, while spacers allow the gasses from the weld to escape through gaps underneath the template plates. Additional template options may allow tube templates with ventilation holes to hold the ferrule, or brushing templating can be applied.

 

Brushing templates allow for angled alignment of the stud in addition to an exact location. These templates use a tube adapter to sheath the stud and tilt it to the desired angle. The tube adapter is connected on one end to a foot component that can be attached to the welding gun and on the other to the ferrule. Template brushing components made from masonite or ebonite are stationed between the template and the tube adaptor. These components protect your template’s longevity and improve the accuracy of the weld. Virtually all drawn arc welding operations benefit from the use of a template.

 

To learn more about drawn arc stud welding and our additional services for stud welding, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770 today.

 

The Flexibility and Quality of Stud Welding

Posted on by norfas by norfas

Centuries ago, forge welding was developed and used for many manufacturing applications. In the late 19th Century, arc welding was developed as electricity became standard throughout manufacturing industries. All welding formats quickly advanced during the world wars as demand for fast, cost-effective attachment methods grew immensely. After WWII, many additional welding techniques were developed, including capacitor discharge (CD) welding.

Since the expansion beyond forge welding in the late 1800s, stud welding has remained a constant in the welding world, developing alongside other welding applications. Historically, stud welding was used primarily for shipbuilding, but because of its versatility and adaptability, it is used in a wide range of global industries today.

 

Northland Fastening Systems is committed to providing every aspect of services and tools needed to open the doors to everything stud welding can do with its flexibility and quality results. From tools and accessories to our own stud welding services, NFS is your one-stop-shop for all the supplies you need to complete any project, big or small.

 

Access to a wide range of stud welding supplies is critical because of the versatility of its manufacturing applications. In fact, stud welding is one of the most flexible welding operations used in any given industry, and it provides a clean, quality weld point that is even stronger than the materials welded together. This flexibility is due to several factors, including:

 

  • Adaptability: Stud welding units can be adjusted to weld studs made from different materials to a wide range of surface metals. Studs themselves come in a range of dimensions including diameter, length, and thread variations. The shape of the stud is adaptable, and several additional options are available for stud properties. Overall stud welding can be used in almost any operation where studded surfaces or other forms of stud connection are necessary.
  • High-speed: Stud welding cuts the time of other stud connection methods in half, making it one of the fastest manufacturing operations available. Handheld stud welders can perform up to 20 welds per minute when used manually, and some automated systems can perform upwards of 60 welds per minute.
  • Maneuverability: Stud welding guns are small, moveable tools that can be used in cramped or difficult-to-reach spaces. Additionally, welders only need access to one side of the weld point, making surface welding faster and more easily maneuvered.
  • Portability: Stud welding units are lightweight in comparison to other welding equipment. Units can be moved with ease between worksites, and many units are designed specifically for constant movement on the job.
  • Weld results: Stud welding is one of the cleanest welding operations available to any industry. Stud welders create a clean, one-sided weld point without holes, residue, or marking. This clean weld improves the strength and extends the lifetime of the weld point and the product overall.

 

Contact Northland Fastening Systems today at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online to get your next project started right!