Spot Weld Tools
Spot welding is an integral part of almost all metal industries. Steel, the most common manufacturing metal, is also the most frequently welded metal, but aluminum alloys and other metals can be welded as well, although they require more powerful welders. Metal pieces are joined when current is applied with two electrodes, one at each side, which produces high temperatures on the specific spot. This process is repeated until enough welded spots ensure two joined sheets remain together under specific conditions.
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Spot Welders
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Spot welding tools come in different versions for use with different thicknesses and types of materials. Suspended resistance spot welders have water-cooled arms to decrease the temperature that is produced during the welding process. Recent developments have produced spot welders that are foot operated and controlled digitally. These welders have a rocker arm adjustable for a wide range of applications. Bench spot welders are most applicable with smaller components, and, with three transformer ratings, offer sufficient welding power for small workshops.
Electrodes
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Most workshops use standard electrodes for spot welding. Pointed electrodes have a tendency to hold a shape well, but they are difficult to mount on a machine. Dome electrodes are used for less precise work and easier approach to flat surfaces. Radius electrodes excel over any other electrodes when it comes to aluminum welding, and, because their shape is spherical, they are easy to clean. Mostly made of chromium and beryllium copper, any electrode can be customized for any machine to speed up the process of setting it up.
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Cutters and Drills
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Cutters and drills are essential for repairing and replacing car parts. Weld cutters allow for spot welds to be removed while keeping the surrounding metal untouched. Some weld cutters even remove spot welds and leave the underlying metal undamaged. Spot welding drills use bits to remove spot welds. Such drill bits can make up to 80 holes, unless a tooth breaks, before replacement.
Accessories
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Electrode holders need to be resistant to heat and impact in order to yield supreme performance. Welding shacks, which house the equipment for welding and provide protection, have to be made from cast steel instead from cast iron to prevent cracking. Welding clamps are used to operate in tight places, and sliding clamps are easier to adjust to a specific task. To optimize the possibilities of welding machines, shunts are devices that allow electric current to pass around another point in the circuit. Shunts need to be flexible and made from right materials. For best results, shunts should be either silver or copper, made for heat resistance. Silver shunts are more expensive than their copper counterparts.
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