Page 90 - MetalForming October 2014

Opt for Integrated Welding Systems
...to gain performance and ease-of-use benefits. Having components that complement one another can help improve arc performance and overall productivity, while also reducing quality issues and minimizing downtime.
BY MIKE VANDENBERG
High-quality results and optimum productivity are important in every welding application. What many companies may not consider, however, is that the weakest part of a welding system is actually what deter- mines its performance. If the welding gun, feeder or power source is performing poorly, for example, the resulting welds also will likely be poor.
For that reason, it is important to have a welding system in which all of the components are engineered to work together. Having components that complement one anoth- er can help improve arc performance and overall productivity, while also reducing quality issues and minimizing downtime.
Such welding systems are available for many specific
Mike Vandenberg is a product manager for Miller Electric Mfg. Co., Appleton, WI: 920/734-9821; www.millerwelds.com
Fabricators will benefit from selecting welding systems in which all the components have been engineered to work together. Having components—power supply, welding gun, etc.—that complement one another and work optimally together can help improve arc performance and overall welding productivity, while reducing quality issues and optimizing uptime.
applications, including aluminum welding and pipe welding, to name just a couple. This article discusses the advantages of investing in a welding system (compared to creating one from random components), and the benefits such systems offer for welding operators.
The Importance of Welding Systems
For many applications, welding systems can offer signif- icant performance benefits. Designed systems offer com- patible amperage and duty cycles, two of the most important considerations for achieving good weld quality and opti- mizing productivity. These systems also will be scaled prop-
88 MetalForming/October 2014
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