Installing Different Types of Insulation with CD Stud Welding

From residential buildings to skyscrapers, there are varying methods used to construct the skeleton and other foundational components of different building types. Homes and other residential buildings are typically built with lumber skeletons, while skyscrapers and other multi-level commercial buildings require steel beam structures. One common fabrication operation used in virtually almost any building type is stud welding. Stud welding is a versatile construction tool that plays a role in a broad range of building processes. For example, stud welding with shear connectors can allow workers to build composite constructions with concrete and steel. Stud welding can also connect steel beams, create foundations, and much more. If you’re using stud welding in building construction, Northland Fastening Systems has the tools, studs, and accessories you need for drawn arc, short cycle, or CD stud welding.

CD Stud Welding

In any type of building construction, CD stud welding is commonly used to install different types of insulation. Insulation helps conserve energy when heating or cooling indoor spaces, protects areas where fire is a potential issue, lowers interior noise pollution, and more. The following are just a few of the many different types of insulation used today in building construction.

Thermal:

Thermal insulation or weatherizing insulation is the most prevalent type of insulation material used in all types of buildings. These types of insulation are almost always required in residential and commercial buildings in order for them to meet municipal and state construction standards. Industrial buildings may not require thermal insulation, but it’s often in the best interest of a company to include insulation for energy costs, climate-control, and equipment protection. Thermal insulation such as batting and blanket fiber sheets, foam, fiberglass, and more are installed with CD weld pins and other stud insulation fasteners.

Acoustic:

For many indoor spaces, acoustic insulation reduces background noise, exterior noise pollution, and prevents sound travel between rooms. Acoustic insulation is used between apartments, offices, condominiums, and other spaces that are in multi-tenant buildings. Noise insulation is also a key component in buildings used in the entertainment industry, manufacturing industries when sonic diagnostics are necessary, and even in hospital buildings and treatment centers to protect patients. Acoustic insulation sheeting and other formats are installed with CD welding tools and studs.

Fire:

Heat-resistant panels, flame retardant sheeting, and many other types of fire insulation are a necessary installment in most buildings for safety purposes. Fire insulation is used in boiler rooms, electrical hubs, roofing, and many industrial applications. Mineral wool, radiant barriers, ceramic fiber, duct wrap, thermal batting, and other kinds of soft fire insulation are installed with CD pins. Electrical enclosures and other metal sheet flame barriers and fire-resistant panels are built with stud welding as well.

If you’re installing insulation of any kind, NFS can provide the necessary drawn arc, short cycle, or CD stud welding supplies. Contact Northland Fastening Systems today at (651) 730-7770, or request a quote online to learn more.

Construction Welding and Shear Connector Facts

One of the main reasons why composite construction holds the strength it does for applications like road, bridge, and building fabrication is because of stud welding. Stud welding with shear connectors and bar anchors allows workers to connect concrete to steel beams and other girders. For most large-scale construction projects, composite construction is a key component of building with accurate, durable, and long-lasting designs. For any stud construction welding needs, Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) has the supplies to get the job done. From studs in a complete range of dimensions and custom options available to welding tools for rent or purchase, NFS is a comprehensive resource for stud-welding supplies. In addition to a full range of tools, studs, and accessories, our welding technicians can provide tool repairs and give guidance for best practices in whatever you’re working on.

Stud Welding in Construction

Stud welding in composite construction is performed with drawn arc operations to install fasteners that form structural connections between steel beams and concrete slabs. Most applications can hold loads up to 1,000 kg/m², which is much higher than composite applications that don’t rely on stud welding.

Shear Connectors

Shear connectors are the most critical component of a composite construction when bonding concrete and steel beams. They completely impact the effectiveness, ergonomics, speed, stability, and safety of a composite construction. In hindsight of examining bridge collapses, severe road damage, and other failures, we’ve determined that the correct application or use of shear connectors often could have prevented the incident.

Construction Welding

When using shear connector studs in construction welding, drawn arc currents range from 240 to 3,000 amps and a ceramic ferrule is used to prevent issues like splatter, burring, slagging, and brittle welds. Shear studs are typically low-carbon steel, but they can be applied in stainless steel when protection from corrosion is necessary. When welded, the length of a shear connector is reduced by about 5 mm.

Stud Welding in Composite Construction

The reason why the incorporation of stud-welding techniques in composite construction is so effective is because the installed studs resist shear force. Shear force runs parallel to the cross section of a road, bridge, or other composite structure. That impact creates significant strain on inflexible construction, but longitudinal shear connectors allow the concrete and beam composite to bend and resonate with the stress, increasing durability.

Installation of Shear Connectors

The correct installation of shear connectors prevents the concrete slab from separating from the steel beam as they both bend from stress. Shear connectors should be installed on a clean deck surface free of paint, dust, oil, and water. Ceramic ferrules can be left to be covered by the concrete pour, but the pour should significantly cover the tops of the studs. Some beam areas may require additional reinforcing depending on the shallowness of the decking and the region along the composite construction.

To learn more about using shear connectors in construction welding, contact NFS at (651) 730-7770. You can also request a quote online to get started with us today.

 

 

 

 

 

Lightweight Applications of CD Stud Welding

There are several types of stud welding utilized in many different industries. Northland Fastening Systems offers a comprehensive supply of welding tools for rent or purchase, studs for all applications, accessories, and the expertise of our own technicians to customers worldwide. Depending on the application, one type of stud welding operation may be better suited than another. When it comes to capacitor discharge (CD) stud welding, there are hundreds of applications that make the fabrication of many products possible. CD stud welding is best suited for smaller-dimension studs and pins. The CD welding process doesn’t leave marks on the opposite side of the weld surface, so it’s ideal for clean results on thin surfaces.

CD Stud Welding

CD stud welding might be more prevalent than many people might realize. It’s used in hundreds of products and tools we use daily, from automotive applications to the installation of home insulation. Some of the lightweight applications of CD stud welding are even more common in most people’s lives. For example:

 

  • Cookware: Many pots and pans are assembled using stud welding operations. Various handles, lids, and specialized pots like steamers and pressure cookers are made stronger and longer-lasting with stud weld connections. In the face of heavy-duty commercial cooking, strong stud fastening systems hold up to the extreme heat and stress of an industrial kitchen.

 

  • Hardware: There are many different applications for the general category of hardware. From brackets, cleats, and hinges to tool handles and specialty kits, CD stud welding with pins and small-dimension studs is a highly effective fabrication method. Hardware for commercial doors also utilizes CD welding for escutcheon plates and insulators.

 

  • Small appliances: While various types of stud welding are used in the manufacturing of many kinds of large appliances, from home ovens and dishwashers to factory-grade food processing equipment, CD welding is also used extensively in building small countertop appliances. This includes most microwaves, deep fryers, hot plates, coffee makers, and more.

 

  • Jewelry: Along with soldering and other fine fabrication methods, stud welding is a useful tool for the jewelry industry and jewelry arts. High-quality jewelry is designed to last a long time with frequent use and hold up to routine cleanings. Using stud and pin welding, jewelers and artists can create strong connections between components.

 

  • Electrical setups: Because it provides a strong connection with no backside marking, CD welding is ideal for electrical enclosures, circuitry systems, terminals, and more. It’s also heavily used in fabricating devices like pumps, motors, and even communication equipment.

Even for small applications, CD stud welding is one of the most effective light-weight systems for rapid production with little-to-no warping. If you’re working with any type of stud welding, NFS has the supplies you need. To learn more about our supplies and services, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770. Request a quote online to get started with us today.

 

Setting Up CD Weld Studs and the Benefits of CD Welding

From production uses like insulation fasteners to heavy-duty composite construction, stud welding is relied on for many purposes. If you’re working with stud welding in any capacity, Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) has the tools for you. We provide stud welding supplies, including tools for rent or purchase, studs in all dimensions with custom options available, and complete welding accessories. In addition to a comprehensive supply of welding equipment, NFS technicians offer expert advice on all stud welding processes, including the use and setup of CD weld studs for effective and quality results.

CD (capacitor discharge) stud welding is a manufacturing technique that’s useful for some of the smaller dimension pins and studs, like the stainless steel studs used in food grade, lightweight welding, for example. Other common applications of CD weld studs are for insulation fasteners, electrical enclosures, internal electronics, and on-board aerospace systems.

Utilizing CD stud welding operations in the appropriate application is highly beneficial for many reasons. Not only does CD welding create a powerful connection point with no mark-through on the opposite side of the weld surface, it’s a rapid process that conserves energy, improves efficiency, and produces a clean finish when done correctly.

Understanding how to set up CD weld studs for the full welding process is critical for performing an effective operation. A CD stud welding process occurs in five basic steps:

  1. Contact of stud tip to weld surface
  2. Ignition of weld tool
  3. “Placement” or pressuring of stud into surface material
  4. Fusion of stud into surface material while both metal are molten from ignition
  5. Cooling of both materials to complete the weld connection

Setup can vary depending on the type of tool you’re using, implementation of different collets, stud dimensions, weld surface material, and electrical specifications. In general, the setup process takes the following steps, and in most cases, will get you ready to weld:

  1. Set up the assembly of “B” collet and “B” stop accessories by loosening the screws at the tip of the gun shaft to allow the installation of these parts.
  2. Ensure the collet is the correct size for stud diameter; then install a correctly paired length of stop into the collet.
  3. The collet and stop should seat correctly into the gun (until it stops completely on insert).
  4. Insert the stud into the collet until it stops fully. The stud should extend past the end of the collet and be held tightly in the gun during welding.
  5. Do not let the stud tip ever come into contact with the collet when the weld is ignited.
  6. Place the leg and foot assembly into the gun to allow ⅛” of the stud protruding past the foot.
  7. Tighten set screws and ensure the area around the weld point and your welding space is clear.

To learn more about this basic process of preparing CD weld studs and other stud welding operations, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.

NFS Welding Studs 101

Since 1987, Northland Fastening Systems (NFS) has supplied the stud welding industry with quality tools, welding studs, accessories, and our own expert advice. Our supply of welding studs and accessories covers a comprehensive range of dimensions, materials, and additional specifications. Welders working with drawn arc, capacitor discharge (CD), or short cycle welding can find the welding studs they need with NFS, including any specifications from threaded studs used in an automated system to CD pins hand-installed in the field to shear connectors used in composite construction. As a specialty welding operation, manufacturers using stud welding take advantage of its speed and ability to form a connection stronger than the stud itself. When done correctly, stud welding is a highly clean and efficient operation that poses little physical danger to the welder. You can incorporate the benefits of stud welding onto your production floor with the help of NFS technicians, our tools—for rent or purchase—and our complete collection of welding studs and accessories.

 

The most common types of stud welding include drawn arc and CD. Studs suitable for each welding operation will vary, and depending on what your surface material, fastening system specifications, and dimension requirements are, the welding studs will vary within each category. All of the following studs are available in multiple diameters and lengths, and we offer custom stud-sizing options.

 

Drawn Arc Studs

Typically speaking, drawn arc welding studs are slightly more heavy-duty than CD welding studs. They fit in larger dimensions; are made from mild, low carbon, or stainless steel; and take longer to weld. NFS offers fully threaded or partially threaded arc welding studs, headed anchor welding studs for concrete connections, shear connectors for composite constructions, and deformed bar anchors for weld and bearing plates.

 

CD Studs and Pins 

CD stud welding is used as a rapid, lightweight, clean fastening operation for smaller studs and CD pins. We offer flanged and threaded CD studs in standard and small sizing and non-flanged and threaded studs in standard sizing. NFS CD studs are fabricated with aluminum, mild steel, stainless steel, or brass. Mild steel CD insulator pins are also available in standard sizing.

 

Accessories

For both drawn arc and CD welding, we have a range of accessories that are necessary to make adjustments to tools, work with ferrules, and more. We offer a variety of cable connectors, ferrule plates, split feet, closed feet, chucks, spark shields, collets inserts, tube adapters, B stops, and more.

 

Whether you’re working with drawn arc, CD, or short cycle welding operations, our goal is to provide you with all the stud welding supplies you need to help your job go smoothly. To learn more about our available welding studs and all our other welding supplies, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770. You can also request a quote online to get started with us today.

Quality Stud Welder Highlight: MFI Sureshot for CD Stud Welding

Northland Fastening Systems is a global provider of high-quality stud welding supplies including stud welding tools for rent or purchase, a comprehensive range of welding studs, welding accessories, and the expertise of our own stud welding technicians.

 

In addition to a broad range of threaded and non-threaded studs for drawn arc and CD stud welding, insulation fasteners, CD pins, bar anchors, shear connectors, and anchor studs available in multiple materials and dimensions, we also have options for custom stud specifications. Our selection of tools available for rent or purchase also has a broad range of options. For those on a permanent production floor, we have multiple fully-automated fastening systems, but we also have lightweight, portable tools for welders in the field, as well as everything in between. This welding tool highlight covers a popular unit for rapid CD stud welding with relatively smaller studs that form powerful connections with a welding surface.

 

Thanks to its compact carrying case and weighing a total of only 18 lbs., the MFI Sureshot is ideal for welders working on a jobsite where multiple locations require welding operations. Easily portable, the MFI Sureshot allows welders to perform quick CD stud welding operations that are clean with little spatter and no marks on the opposite side of the weld surface.

 

MFI Sureshot Specifications

 

  1. Electrical: The MFI Sureshot operates with 110/220 VAC, 15/7.5 Amp, and 50/60Hz incoming and 35-160 VDC, 3,000-9,000 A, and direct current outgoing, with 100,000 uF capacitance.
  2. Welding range: This CD stud welding unit has a pin and stud range of 14 gauge through a 5/16” diameter at the weld base. The welding operation is effective with mild and stainless steels as well as aluminum. It operates quickly for a small unit with 24 welds per minute in the highest voltage. Each charge between welds is less than 3 seconds.
  3. Operation details: The MFI Sureshot unit features three indicator lights and a resettable breaker with additional safety shutdowns. The system is continually cooled with a thermal fan, and the 7-segment digital display offers welders direct control with ease.
  4. Welding gun: The welding gun weighs only 1.6 lbs. for long-term use without exhaustion. The gun is made from high strength, impact resistance polycarbonate. Gun dimensions are 4 ⅞” L x 2” W x 5 ¾” H.
  5. Cables: The MFI Sureshot comes with a standard set of #4 grounding cables and gun cables. The grounding cable reaches up to 15 ft and the weld cables reach up to 20 ft from the gun, allowing welders a broad range of motion around obstacles in the field.

 

The MFI Sureshot is one of many welding tools we have in our collection. To find out more about this CD stud welding tool and many others, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770. Request a quote online to get started with us today.

What Makes a Perfect Stud Weld?

Stud welding is a manufacturing operation that shows up in subtle ways throughout our world. From planes, trains, ships, and automobiles to bridges and even food-grade kitchen products, stud welding is a heavily utilized production tool that plays a part in making many items that we interact with daily. At Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), we support manufacturers relying on stud welding to get the job done. We provide comprehensive stud welding supplies, including welding tools for rent or purchase, studs in a range of dimensions with custom stud options available, stud welding accessories, and the skills and expertise of our own technicians. With our quality supplies and services, you can continually perform the perfect stud weld and fabricate with reliable, strong fastening systems.

 

If you are utilizing stud welding as a key manufacturing operation, it’s critical to understand what makes a perfect stud weld connection. If a weld is even slightly less than perfect, it’s not going to be effective, and it could cause some severe issues and potential safety concerns if put into a functional setting. To perform a perfect stud weld, there are three factors to take into account.

 

  1. Heat: Welding requires heat, but the temperature needed to get the perfect weld will vary depending on several factors. Typically, heat requirements depend on the kind of stud welding operation, the stud material and dimensions, the surface material, and any contaminants that might be on the surface, such as paint or rust. Calibrating the specific temperature needed to perform a perfect weld requires welders to be knowledgeable, experienced, and skilled. While the technical information concerning heat requirements is very detailed, it’s relatively simple to adjust heat specifications on most welding units.
  2. Pressure: The second factor involved in creating the perfect stud weld result is pressure. Even if you have the correct heat, if you have inaccurate pressure, the weld will be weakened. If you apply too much pressure, the weld could go too deeply into the base material and cause splattering, molten spread, misshapen welds, and other cosmetic defects. Additionally, too deep of a weld could create functional issues like cracking. Too light of a pressure application has its own issues and often creates a weld connection that isn’t fully formed. This can result in porous welds, brittleness, and cracks.
  3. Time: Finally, the time spent applying heat and pressure is equally important. Depending again on the weld type, materials, and other particle factors involved, the perfect stud weld will need to be applied for a specific time frame. Because the weld time varies within frames of fractions of seconds, it’s incredibly important to calibrate your tool to meet the necessary requirements. Failing to meet the right time requirements always means sacrificing the perfect stud weld.

 

To learn more about the other factors involved in creating a perfect stud weld, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online to get started with us today.

Quality Stud Welder Highlight: ACE-P100

At Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), we offer a broad range of stud-welding tools for rent or purchase, welding studs in comprehensive dimensions, custom stud options, stud-welding accessories, and the expertise of our own stud-welding technicians. For drawn arc, short cycle, and capacitor discharge (CD) stud-welding operations, it’s critical to get the stud welder and welding equipment that will not only fit the operation, but also fit your work schedule, portability, and on-site power needs. When it comes to choosing the right stud welder that will meet your production needs and be calibrated to worksite electrical sources, NFS experts are here to help. We can work with you to determine exactly what your production needs are and which stud-welding tool would be the best option for you to rent or purchase.

 

For hand-held, non-automated stud welding, there are a wide variety of tools that could be useful in your arsenal. If you’re working with CD stud welding operations, one highly effective, reliable tool is the TRUWELD ACE-P100 stud welder model. The ACE-P100 is a hand-held CD stud welder that incorporates state-of-the-art technologies into a compact unit that is both rugged and portable. With a new user interface and system design, the ACE-P100 can weld CD pins in sizes up to 10 gauge and CD studs with dimensions up to #10 with more efficiency and speed than ever before.

 

Specifications: The ACE-P100 is 12.5″ x 10.1″ x 6.0″, making it a lightweight yet powerful piece of portable equipment. It can weld up to 15-30 pins per minute, and it uses a universal power input of 85-250 VAC at 50/60 hertz. The recharge time between pin welds is less than one second, and it has built in thermal/voltage protections. The gun tip is engaged with contact and a hand trigger.

 

Features: The most recent updates to the ACE-P100 features include its intuitive touchscreen, set-point discharge, universal input voltage, contact and trigger indicators, thermal and voltage protection, and low-input voltage capabilities that allow continued operations with long extension cords. These features all make the ACE-P100 more portable, easier to operate, and more readily adaptable to a range of worksite power capabilities. Along with its new features, the ACE-P100 design still includes an increased airflow for better weld cycles, tough interior construction that holds up to rough handling and transport, a rugged grade exterior casing that protects the interior from on-site contaminants, an ergonomic hand tool that reduces operator fatigue, added internal spring for adjusting the spring pressure in the hand tool, and the ability to swap the hand tool from standard tapered chuck configuration to B, CI, or Euro collet configurations.

 

The ACE-P100 is one of many high-quality stud-welder tools available for rent or purchase at NFS. Contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online to learn more about the stud welding products we supply.

Catering Equipment Made with CD Stud Welding

At Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), we offer quality stud welding supplies to a broad range of customers. From welding studs to stud welding tools for various types of welding processes, our expert technicians can help you get what you need to finish a project. Whether you’re working with drawn arc welding methods or capacitor discharge (CD) welding processes, NFS has a comprehensive selection of tools for rent or purchase, welding studs in many dimensions, custom stud options, and welding accessories that our customers working in many industries need. One industry in which CD stud welding, in particular, is key is the food equipment industry. Food grade welding is a highly specialized process that requires training and the right set of tools.

 

Within the food industry, the catering profession requires its own set of tools and equipment designed to transport, store, and serve food safely and without compromising quality. Because CD stud welding is a rapid, efficient, and extremely clean operation, it’s an ideal tool for manufacturing a number of different types of catering equipment. For example:

 

  1. Transportation equipment:
    1. Outdoor and portable coolers
    2. Insulated tray carriers
    3. Warming trays
    4. Totes and other nonheated/cooled carriers
    5. Storage boxes
    6. Large-scale transportation ware, such as castored shelving units
  2. Food preparation equipment:
    1. Offsite pre-event food prep equipment like ovens, stoves, and other standard commercial kitchen appliances
    2. Chef station appliances for onsite cooking, such as hot plates and induction burners
    3. Portable grills
    4. Temperature-controlled holding cabinets
    5. Dry holding cabinets
    6. Onsite food transportation units for moving food during an event
  3. Serving equipment:
    1. Portable trays and shelves
    2. Chafers
    3. Utensils
    4. Food pans
    5. Heated or cooled trays
    6. Ice containers
    7. Hot and cold beverage dispensing equipment
    8. Portable bars
    9. Coffee stations
  4. Sanitation equipment:
    1. Hand washing stations
    2. Dish washing stations
    3. Garbage cans and other food waste processing equipment
    4. Transportation shelves and tools for dirty dishes
    5. Portable sink systems for events with no water hookup
  5. Energy supplies:
    1. Many catered events don’t have energy sources at the location, and caterers often need to bring generators and other portable power supplies along with them.
    2. Battery powered equipment is also a key part of catering energy supplies.

 

Catering equipment is just one small part of the food grade stud welding industry. CD stud welding is highly conducive to food grade equipment because of its ability to eliminate marking on the opposite side of the weld. This alone limits problem areas where bacteria and germs can collect. Food grade welding with CD stud welding tools help our customers fabricate streamlined stainless steel products that can be easily sanitized.

 

Whether you’re manufacturing catering equipment or equipment for other areas of the food industry, NFS has the CD stud welding supplies you need. Contact us at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online to get started with us today.

Revisiting Basic Terminology for Stud Welding Supplies

If you’re just getting into the stud welding world, there may be some terms thrown around that you’re unfamiliar with. When you break down each type of stud welding and the supplies and tools used, there are some nuances that will arise. Whether you’re just starting out or if you’ve been in the stud welding game for years, you can find all your stud welding supplies and technical support with Northland Fastening Systems.

 

The basic terminology of stud welding can be broken into two categories of drawn arc stud welding and capacitor discharge (CD) stud welding. Within these two types of stud welding, there are variations to operations and specialized tools that can be used to get many effects.

 

Drawn Arc Stud Welding

 

  1. Drawn arc: These welding tools use both flux and a ceramic ferrule. The flux creates a clean weld zone as the tip of the gun makes contact with the surface material, and the ceramic ferrule contains the molten weld point to prevent splatter. Drawn arc welds using flux and a ferrule create the strongest stud bond.
  2. Gas arc: Gas arc welding replaces a ceramic ferrule with inert gas, and it typically does not use a flux to prepare the surface (though some gas arc weld processes still use a flux ball). Gas arcs are used commonly in automated welding operations where precision and speed limit the need for flux. This provides a quick, cost effective weld that saves labor because it does not require chipping off a ferrule when the weld is completed.
  3. Short arc: For operations using high currents and requiring fast weld times, short arc welding can be a reliable process. Short arc welds can tend to be weaker or more porous because they do not use flux or ferrule, but in the right application, they can be key.

 

CD Stud Welding

 

  1. Contact CD welding: This process places the tip of the stud against the weld surface while the weld occurs. The current vaporizes the tip of the stud and an arc is created between the stud and surface. This arc heats both stud and surface metals, and the molten components are connected.
  2. Gap CD welding: Gap welding is a faster process than contact welding. The tip of the stud is poised above the surface as the arc is formed and then pressed against the surface as both become molten.

 

If you are just starting out in the stud welding industry, you can use these terms as a base reference for areas you want to study or try as you learn and become a more professional welder. To learn more about the comprehensive stud welding supplies we provide, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770. Request a quote online to get started with us today.