Experience with shipyard installation of a hybrid pipe welding system
Laser-Gas Metal Arc (GMA) hybrid welding is fast making the transition from laboratory to production, in industries as diverse as shipbuilding to automobile manufacture. For the past 3 years, our team has striven to both develop a hybrid welding process for steel pipe, and to specify, build, and install a hybrid pipe welding system in a General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard. In March 2007, the system was successfully installed into the shipyard. This work presents a summary of our continued experimental explorations into various practical aspects of hybrid welding, discusses the system design, and provides an overview of the installation of the system into the shipyard. Test results are presented, as well as lessons learned throughout the project.
Continued experimental analysis of practical aspects of hybrid welding of thick sections
Laser-Gas Metal Arc (GMA) hybrid welding is fast making the transition from laboratory to production, in industries as diverse as shipbuilding to automobile manufacture. However, many aspects of hybrid laser welding are not well understood. This work presents a summary of our continued experimental explorations into various practical aspects of hybrid welding, such as joint design, gap tolerance, welding through conventional tack welds, weld overlap for circumferential pipe welding, and others.Laser-Gas Metal Arc (GMA) hybrid welding is fast making the transition from laboratory to production, in industries as diverse as shipbuilding to automobile manufacture. However, many aspects of hybrid laser welding are not well understood. This work presents a summary of our continued experimental explorations into various practical aspects of hybrid welding, such as joint design, gap tolerance, welding through conventional tack welds, weld overlap for circumferential pipe welding, and others.
Arc flash hazard assessment in the mining industry
When it comes to electrical safety in the workplace, arc flash has become the most prominent topic over the past decade. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA, including state chapters) is the only government body that recognizes NFPA-70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace. However, OSHA does not have jurisdiction in mining operations. Electrical safety for the metal and nonmetal surface mining industry is covered by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 30, Part 56, Subpart K (Electricity). The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is responsible for enforcing electrical safety in mining operations. CFR Title 30 does not reference personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect electrical workers against arc flash hazards. This paper provides maintenance and safety personnel in surface Metal/Nonmetal mining operations with a step by step guide to implementing an electrical safety program that meets the requirements of MSHA, CFR Title 30 and NFPA-70E.