SUCCESS

W E L D I N G C Y C L E T I M E R E D U C E D W I T H

Surface Tension Transfer (STT ) ® ®

Pipe/Tubing Thermax, Ltd.

Switching from TIG welding
to Lincoln’s® STT® process
eliminates long set-up times
and sends productivity soaring
for India-based Thermax, Ltd.
-CHALLENGE-
TIG welding small boiler tubes was
time-consuming due to lengthy set-
up times, hindering productivity.
-SOLUTION-
With Lincoln’s® STT® process low
heat input and excellent heat con-
trol, they are able to use a joint
with no root face and no gap and
still get excellent penetration.
- R E S U LT S -
Welding a 2 in. (50 mm) tube takes
a mere 60 seconds, which
increased productivity dramatically,
T
hermax, Ltd. manufactures and fixtured in a lathe. The tubes are
temperature indicators and rotated and welding proceeds in the
strips, thermal fluid heaters, 1G position.
and other
products used
to monitor
and record
equipment
temperature
fluctuations
in the food,
medical,
automotive
and
aerospace
industries,
among
others.
Thermax
has switched
from TIG to
the STT®
process for welding small
boiler tubes used in thermal fluid After each root bead, the capping
heaters. Because fit-up has to be pass is welded with the same
perfect when TIG welding, set-up parameters as the root pass by
weaving the torch to fill up the joint.
This operation has been automated
“With STT’s® low heat to start the weaving automatically
input and excellent upon completion of the root pass.
With STT®, penetration is outstanding
heat control, they are
with an excellent back bead, and a
able to use a joint with smooth, polished finish on the cap
no root face and no pass is obtained.
gap and still get excel-
lent penetration.” Thermax is now welding a 2 in.
(50 mm) tube that takes a mere 60
seconds. Their goal is zero defects in
time was too long, and productivity the first year of operation, as well as
was slowed. With STT’s® low heat Six Sigma.
input and excellent heat control,
they are able to use a joint with no
root face and no gap and still get
excellent penetration. Two long
seamless tubes are joint prepared

T h e f u t u r e o f w e l d i n g i s h e r e .®
NX-4.110 11/06
W E L D I N G C Y C L E T I M E R E D U C E D W I T H SUCCESS

Surface Tension Transfer (STT ) ® ®

2/2
Thermax, Ltd.
WHAT IS NEXTWELD?
Featured Lincoln Products
The challenges facing industrial fabrica-
tors today are growing in number and
complexity. Rising labor, material and
Invertec® STT® II energy costs, intense domestic and
The STT® II combines high frequency inverter global competition,
technology with advanced Waveform Control a dwindling pool of
Technology® in place of traditional short-arc skilled workers,
GMAW welding. The STT® II's precise control of more stringent and
specific quality
the electrode current during the entire welding
demands all con-
cycle significantly reduces fumes, spatter and tribute to a more
grinding time. In addition, the unit offers inde- difficult welding
pendent control of wire feed speed and current. environment today.

Through our com-

mitment to exten-
sive research and
STT®-10 investments in product development,
Lincoln Electric® has established an
The sophisticated STT®-10 Process Controller
industry benchmark for applying tech-
was designed specifically to work with nology to improve the quality, lower the
the revolutionary STT® II power source. cost and enhance the performance of
Microprocessor controls make it easy arc welding processes. Advancements
to develop optimal procedures and in power electronics, digital communi-
set the range of operator adjust- cations and Waveform Control
ments. Dual procedure control Technology® are the foundation for
can increase or decrease many of the improvements.
the energy in the arc NEXTWELD brings you a series of
without changing the Process, Technology, Application and
wire feed speed. Success Story documents like this one.
NEXTWELD explains how technologies,
products, processes and applications
are linked together to answer the impor-
tant questions that all businesses face:
• How can we work faster, smarter,
more efficiently?
• How can we get equipment and
people to perform in ways they’ve
never had to before?
• How do we stay competitive?

NEXTWELD is the future of welding but

its benefits are available to you today.
Ask your Lincoln Electric® representative
how to improve the flexibility, efficiency
and quality of your welding operations
to reduce your cost of fabrication.

THE LINCOLN ELECTRIC COMPANY

www.lincolnelectric.com
1.216.481.8100

T h e f u t u r e o f w e l d i n g i s h e r e .®