One abbreviation you may see when you look for tubing or pipe is HFW. It stands for high frequency welded. We want to take a look at it today to showcase why it is a great type. Then if you want to order products from the best ERW steel tube supplier in the West Midlands, you can come to us.
What is it?
All ERW tube features welding that utilises electrical resistance to heat the edges of the metal. This is a better option than using an external heat source like a torch because the heat is generated within the material itself. That keeps the heat affected zone (HAZ) small. It also means the weld can have similar strength to the material because there is no filler.
The important thing here is to look at the frequency. Until the 70s this type of welding was done using a low frequency. While it could join the edges of the tube, in time the weld could succumb to issues such as hook cracks and selective seam corrosion. There could also be inadequate bonding in spots.
With knowledge of the flaws that could happen with low frequency welding, manufacturers made the move to higher frequencies. Today they can be as much as 400 kHZ. This provides a number of key benefits. For example, if you increase from 200k HZ to 400k HZ you can massively improve the weld power. This can create a strong bond. We look at this to ensure we get it right when producing ERW steel tubes in the West Midlands.
Speed
One of the biggest advantages with high frequency welding is the speed. It can outperform other methods if you need to maximise productivity. For example, it could reach as high as 30m per minute. That can lead to very fast production times. It helps ensure we can satisfy orders quickly in the majority of cases.
Factors
There are several factors to consider here though. As we said, the frequency is crucial because it determines the weld power. So, you need to know the electrical power.
On top of this, you need to look at the level of pressure you are applying. Heating the edges of the tube with an electrical current is just half the battle. You also need to squeeze them together to create a strong bond. So, you must apply sufficient pressure to achieve this but can’t be excessive or it can push material out.
It is also important to think about the welding and cooling times. They can vary depending on things like the thickness of the material.
A good rule here is to use stronger electrical power for thicker materials and try to keep weld times as short as possible. With thinner walls you can reduce the power and increase the welding time.
Ordering ERW steel tubes in the West Midlands
Union Steel Tubes is a leader in our field. Our goal is to give our clients the finest tubing as quickly as we can. We are ISO 9001 certified and have a skilful, talented team. That ensures you can get fantastic support for all kinds of projects. We can even recommend tubing for different needs.
So, speak to us today and get your hands on the best ERW steel tubes in the West Midlands. You can choose from a massive range of options, including various shapes, sizes, and finishes.
