New Welding Tech
A research group for welding technology at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) announced on January 15 that it successfully developed the industry’s first weaving apparatus for submerged arc welding (SAW). The apparatus is said to be used at Okpo Shipyard.
Weaving is one of the methods of welding that moves an electrode from side to side in a set pattern. The SAW method is widely used in welding boards, but weaving has been impossible until now due to the use of high-strength wires.
When the new equipment is used for welding during the construction of a vessel, increasing amounts of the electrode can be melted in the same period of time compared to the existing method. Furthermore, the time and number of welds needed can be reduced drastically. In addition, uniform and high-quality welding is now possible.
Because of its portability, the machine can be utilized on the vessel that is being built, as well as factories or shipyards. A decrease in the number of welds changes the weld shape, too. Hence, straightening the disfigured weld shape, which is difficult for thick boards, is easier.
DSME anticipates that 3.7 billion won (US$3.5 million) in production will be saved per year through this apparatus. A reduction in faulty welding rates and product quality improvement are also expected.