Category: Stud Welding

Stud welding is one of the most commonly used operations for manufacturing a broad range of electrical equipment, including the highly critical enclosures that delicate electronics need if they will be placed in a setting with harsh conditions. Because stud welding provides a strong connection with clean welds that don’t leave marks on the opposite side of the weld, it’s an ideal process for fabricating electrical enclosures that will hold up to a broad variety of conditions.

 

Electrical enclosures need to protect the equipment contained within from wind, rain, snow, ice, dust, UV light, and even seismic activity. Stud welding is the tool needed to build enclosures that will be reliable against the elements in the long-term. With Northland Fastening Systems, you can get all the supplies you need to use stud welding as one of your primary fastening systems.

 

While the purpose and general design of different electrical enclosures doesn’t vary greatly between boxes, there are key differences that make specific enclosures more suited to one environment over another. For many enclosures, NEMA ratings (National Electrical Manufacturers Association) will determine what environment it’s best suited for. NEMA ratings range from 1 to 13, with NEMA 1 being the least hardy electrical enclosure (commonly used indoors) and NEMA 13 enclosures capable of holding up to industrial grade contaminants.

 

Some examples of NEMA ratings include:

 

• NEMA 3 enclosures are the most weather resistant, capable of withstanding wind, rain, and more. NEMA 3X enclosures are even resistant to salt water corrosion and are used in outdoor settings near shorelines and on ships.
• NEMA 4 enclosures are fully water tight and can be used in areas with large quantities of water. 4X enclosures have added corrosion resistance as well as being watertight.
• NEMA 6 enclosures can be fully submerged in water or oil. 6P can be fully submerged for longer periods of time.
• NEMA 7 and 8 enclosures are used in hazardous conditions that will be exposed to gases including propane, ethylene, methane, butane, hydrogen, acetylene, and benzene.

 

While NEMA ratings cover a broad range of factors that enclosures built with stud weld fastening systems will face, the issue of seismic activity is not addressed. Instead, seismic rated enclosures have their own requirements. To meet seismic grade enclosure requirements, stud welding is a necessary operation to use. Seismic rated enclosures need heavy duty doors, full welding, and mounting hardware. The need for seismic rated enclosures depends on the zone where an enclosure will be installed. Of Zones 1-4, seismic enclosures are necessary in Zones 3 and 4 where seismic activity is heightened.

 

Whether you need to manufacture NEMA rated or seismic grade enclosures, NFS has the supplies you need including stud welding tools for rent or purchase, welding studs in a complete range of dimensions, and the expertise of our own welding technicians. Contact us at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online today to get started with stud welding fastening systems.

At Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), we understand the significance of quality in a weld. Not only does the strength of the weld depend on the quality of the stud welding process, quality practices also directly impact worker safety on a job site. Whether you’re working with drawn arc or CD stud welding tools, you can find quality and reliability with NFS supplies. We provide a comprehensive range of welding studs, including pins and bar anchors with custom options available. We also offer welding tools for rent or purchase, welding accessories, and the expertise of our own stud welding technicians. No matter how big or small your stud welding project is, you can get the job done with the help of NFS.

When it comes to achieving a quality weld, there are many technical aspects that are key to being successful, such as calibrating the welding unit and using the right metals. However, for non-automated welding operations, a large part of achieving a quality weld depends on the skills and performance of the welders themselves. Stud welding technicians can do many tasks right or wrong during a welding operation. The following are some of the basic “DON’TS” that welders should steer clear of if they want a quality stud connection point:

1. Do not weld in an unventilated work site. No matter what type of welding process you’re using (stud welding or otherwise), the chemical changes that take place when metals are heated and bonded release fumes. These fumes can be toxic to inhale. That, in addition to ventilation helping to minorly improve the results of a weld, is why it’s critical to have a ventilated work site.
2. Do not weld on an unstable surface, especially when working with stud welding. It’s important to weld on a clean, flat, and secure working surface. If you do have to weld on a painted or a slightly uneven surface, for example, take the necessary precautions to clamp, clean, and stabilize the surface as much as possible before welding. Unstable surfaces can cause injury to welders and result in a poor quality weld.
3. Do not weld in an unsafe work site. An unsafe work site can include factors like water on the ground, nearby flammables, coiled cabling near the weld point, and even welding without the proper safety equipment. Not only does an unsafe work site risk severe injury to welders and anyone working in the vicinity, any danger to workers will most likely also play a role in sacrificing quality welds.
4. Do not weld with unclean or unmaintained tools. Drawn arc and CD stud welding tools alike inevitably gather dust and contaminating particles over time. Because the damage that dust does to the welding tool itself is often minor, many welders are guilty of neglecting routine cleaning and maintenance. However, an unmaintained tool can be the reason for a poor quality weld. Preventing this potential problem is as simple as performing regular cleaning and maintenance checks.

To learn more about the “dos” and “don’ts” of stud welding, contact NFS at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online today.

Since its origins in shipbuilding during the turn of the century, stud welding has opened doors for thousands of construction projects unlike any others. Today, stud welding is used in a broad range of manufacturing operations, from sheet metal building to composite construction.

 

If you are working with stud welding fastening systems, you can count on Northland Fastening Systems for all your welding needs. Our skilled stud welding technicians offer expert advice and provide a comprehensive selection of welding studs, tools for rent and purchase, and stud welding accessories.

 

While stud welding is a common operation in many different industries, it has been used in many cases to build highly uncommon structures. Some of the strangest architectural endeavors were made possible thanks to the capabilities of stud welding. For example:

 

• Guggenheim Museum: Located in Bilbao, Spain, the Guggenheim Museum was completed in 1997. The swooping titanium structures that make up the iconic avant-garde architectural look of the Guggenheim are held in place with multiple stud systems. This organic and deconstructivist style of architecture heralded in many other similar, yet unique structures.
• Burj Khalifa: Dubai’s Burj Khalifa has been the tallest building in the world since its completion in 2009. The building reaches 2,722 feet at its tip and has a total of 163 floors. This massive skyscraper was built using stud welding in many different ways, including beam fastening and composite construction. In fact, stud welding allowed for the construction of all skyscrapers and many other building types since the first modern multi-story structures were built in the early 1900s.
• Habitat 67: Finished in 1967 in Montreal, the model housing complex Habitat 67 offers 146 units in a unique format. The full structure of Habitat 67 is built with 354 concrete forms stacked and connected in various sections. The goal of this housing complex was to create the outdoor and indoor spaces of suburban neighborhoods within a confined city environment. Habitat 67 builders relied heavily on composite stud welding construction to complete this bold architectural project, and today it remains one of Montreal’s many interesting landmarks.
• Eden Project: Located in Cornwall, England, the Eden Project is a large greenhouse complex inside multiple adjoining domes. These domes are made from polygonally connected steel tubing and inflated ethylene tetrafluoroethylene cells. The Eden Project is designed to emulate organic forms in reference to the thousands of protected plant species housed inside. Many components in the Eden Project were connected using stud welding fastening systems.

 

These are just a few examples of the many bold and unique construction projects that stud welding makes possible across the globe. To learn more about the stud welding supplies and tools we provide to a broad range of customers, contact Northland Fastening Systems today at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online to get started with our team.

 

Any stud welding technician working in the field knows that a malfunctioning or damaged welding tool can put a solid stop to any operations and significantly increase the time it takes to get a job done. At Northland Fastening Systems, we’re here to support welders on the job with equipment repairs and stud welding tools for rent or purchase. In addition to tool support we have welding studs available in a broad range of dimensions with options for custom sizes, and welding accessories like cable connectors and ferrule plates.

 

If you’re welding in the field, in your facilities, or any other job site and experience a sudden tool failure, our technicians offer rapid repair services and tools for rent to keep production going while your tools are being fixed. From repairs to supplies, NFS is here for all your stud welding equipment needs.

 

Repairs

NFS provides maintenance and repairs for a broad range of industry-standard stud welding equipment. This includes brands like HBS, Tru-Weld, Cutlass, ProWeld, AGM, Nelson, ERICO, NOVA, MFI, and Tension Control Tools. We have over 30 years of experience in the stud welding industry and in providing repairs for these brands and more. In addition to our expertise, customers can rest assured the price will be reasonable. No one should have to compromise quality repairs for a cost-effective solution. Our service technicians provide excellent repair work at a fair price.

 

Rentals

While we work to repair your stud welding equipment, you can take advantage of the many tools we have available for rent to keep production running. Our rental options meet a broad range of welding needs including automated welding, CD welding, drawn arc welding, and short cycle welding. We also provide options for any electrical setups our customers might be working with, taking into account the specifications for phase, voltage, and other weld calibrations.

 

When you rent stud welding equipment through NFS, you will also have the full support of our technicians, including advice and instructions on using a tool you may be less familiar with. We rent tools at daily, weekly, or monthly rates so you can get the best deal for your timeline. Whether you need a stud welding tool for a temporary job or a replacement while your tool is in the shop, we have the stud welding equipment that will meet any of your requirements.

 

A broken tool and the subsequent downtime while it’s being repaired can extend production timelines significantly, costing you more time and money. Don’t wait to get the job done. Bring your stud welding equipment to NFS for repairs and find the perfect rental to keep production going at your job site. Contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770 today or request a quote online to get started with our team.

In the construction industry, almost every project involves stud welding operations in some way, including anything from building construction to other large-scale structures like bridges and water towers. Because stud welding is used for such a broad range of projects where accuracy, strength, and long-term reliability is critical, onsite production welding technicians need access to the best tools, equipment, and knowledge. At Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), we provide a comprehensive range of stud welding products to support your needs, including a range of stud dimensions, stud welding tools for rent or purchase, equipment accessories, and our own technicians’ expertise. In addition to our complete stud welding resources, we also provide options for jobsite welding and mobile projects.

 

Jobsite welding has multiple obstacles that technicians face often. The most common is the lack of power on construction sites when steel skeletons are put up before electrical lines are run. Handling the lack of provided electricity requires technicians to bring their own power source with them to the jobsite.

 

Power Source: Supplying your own power source is as simple as bringing a lightweight generator that can be calibrated to the specifications of your tools and the materials you’re working with. When you work with NFS, you can take advantage of the generators we rent to clients with jobsite welding projects. For construction jobs in the early stages without onsite power, a generator is a necessity to perform any of the stud welding that is so often crucial to continuing the fabrication process.

 

Portability: Another important aspect of jobsite welding is portability. Some stud welding units can be bulky, difficult to move, and even harder to install in a safe, working position. The problem with choosing a lightweight, portable welding unit is a potential need to compromise for welding power. With the right NFS welding units and equipment, you don’t need to compromise portability for power. Units like the HBS IT 2002 and other similar models offer heavy-duty drawn arc welding capabilities and mobility with ease.

 

With the right power source and portable welding unit, you can take on any jobsite welding project, no matter what stage construction is in. Because stud welding is such a heavily used operation in the early stages of building construction, and throughout the fabrication process as a whole, it’s important to have access to tools that are portable and external power sources.

 

Don’t rely on the jobsite to provide what you need to get the job done. Portable tools and power sources are available to you through NFS today. To learn more about the stud welding products and other fastening solutions we provide, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770. Request a quote online to get started with our experts.

Like so many other construction industries, the automotive production world utilizes stud welding extensively to manufacture components that are used in almost every type of vehicle today. Stud welding is a very versatile manufacturing operation that is applicable in a broad range of fastening systems.

 

At Northland Fastening Systems, we understand the widespread use of stud welding in many industries, and we provide an equally broad selection of stud welding supplies. With NFS, you have access to a comprehensive range of stud dimensions, stud welding tools for rent or purchase, and stud welding accessories, as well as our own technicians’ advice and expertise in stud welding as a fastening system.

 

When it comes to the automotive industry, stud welding is used in multiple production stages. One large part of all automotive production is the support of all the safety measures that get built into a vehicle. Stud welding is used in many of the safety aspects of a vehicle, including the following:

 

• Airbags: Today, many vehicles have airbags installed in multiple sections of a vehicle, and every new vehicle made has at least one airbag on the driver’s side. The installation of these airbags would be impossible without the capabilities of stud welding. Using stud welding, automotive manufacturers can install airbags in safe ways that are reliable in the long term.

 

• Power Steering: In addition to airbags, power steering system installation relies on stud welding. Power steering systems are a relatively new part of the everyday vehicle, but anyone who has driven a classic car knows how much easier power steering makes daily driving.

 

• Exhaust Systems: Unless you drive an electric car, your vehicle emits dangerous carbon monoxide and other gasses through the exhaust system. To prevent the passengers and driver from being exposed to these fumes, specialized exhaust systems are needed. The fabrication and installation of these exhaust systems with stud welding operations is another key factor in the level of vehicle safety.

 

• Insulation: In any vehicle, there is an extensive amount of wiring and heat sources. Protecting the rest of the vehicle from exposure to electrical current or high heat requires the inclusion of insulation in various parts of the automotive interior. This insulation is commonly built or installed with stud welding and composite stud weld construction.

 

• Heat Shields: Another major component of safety in a vehicle is heat shields. To protect car components from a combustion engine and electrical heat, advanced heat shields are required. These automotive heat shields are assemblies that use stud welding in the fabrication and installation process.

 

Overall, stud welding is an important part of the automotive manufacturing process. To learn more about stud welding as a fastening system and the industries it’s used in, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.

 

The stud welding process is a widely used group of operations in the manufacturing world. Because the process has so many applications, manufacturers find it highly advantageous to be able to automate stud welding on a production line. Streamlining stud welding into an automated production line process allows manufacturers to increase speed, precision, quality, and efficiency for any fabrication project. If you are working with stud welding as a contract manufacturer or professional welder, you can greatly increase your output without compromising quality by implementing production line practices in your facility. At Northland Fastening Systems (NFS), we provide a broad range of tools to automate your stud welding process as well as tools, studs, accessories, and expert services to support your current non-automated stud welding operations.

 

Whether or not you have the facility accommodations to integrate a fully automated stud welding process, you can always implement elements of a production line in certain ways. Handheld stud guns and other units can be effectively used in a production line setting, although the most efficient process in many cases is automated.

 

Non-Automated Production Line

The general structure of a production line is designed to operate in stages, with each step of the fabrication process occurring at its own stage. When it comes to non-automated stud welding, forming a production line is entirely possible. An example of an effective non-automated production line process might include these steps:

 

1. The surface of the base material is cleaned or otherwise prepped.
2. Any shielding gas that will be used in a drawn arc process is prepped.
3. The gun tip is prepped, including any ferrules, fluxes, and stud that might be used, depending on the weld type and the necessary stud dimensions and material.
4. The weld is performed.
5. Ferrules and other waste materials are removed.
6. The weld is inspected for quality.

 

In this scenario, the majority of the process will be performed by a welding technician, and likely one weld will be performed at a time. When it comes to automation, there are a few key differences that make a production line more efficient.

 

Automated Production Line

Automated stud welding processes are typically used in sheet metal construction where a large base material can be fed through a conveyor system, but there are some other applications that can feed smaller components that are not necessarily in sheet form through an automated system. Automated production lines often use stud welding tools controlled by a software system. Each step of the process can be done in bulk, including the performance of the weld with multiple stud welding tips. In some facilities, up to 40 studs can be welded in one step, and the software used in a welding process can be calibrated to highly specific results. This can include intricate patterning of the studs with precise placement.

 

To learn more about integrating an automated or non-automated production line stud welding process into your facilities, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online today.