Welding Services
Consulting - ASME Code - Precision Welding
FAB Source welding services include custom fabrications and repairs of existing items. Our skilled MIG and TIG welders are ASME Section IX and AWS certified, and are also trained to read engineered plans and make high-quality parts to spec. Our welding equipment is precisely calibrated semi-annually for quality assurance.
Our experienced craftsmen excel in making quality welds with gas metal arc welding (MIG), gas tungsten arc welding (TIG), and shielded metal arc welding (stick electrode). We select the most appropriate welding process for the job at hand by considering several factors, such as:
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Type of material being welded,
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Thickness of the material,
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Welding position,
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Type of welding power source and the amount of current available, and
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Time requirements.
Gas Metal Arc Welding (Metal Inert Gas - MIG) consists of feeding a bare metal filler wire--made of the same material being welded--in conjunction with a shielding gas through a hand held torch unit. The welding wire picks up electric current supplied by a standard power source. On contact, it creates an arc that does the welding. For routine joining applications, a MIG welder probably offers more advantages than any other welding process.
Gas Tungsten Welding (Tungsten Inert Gas - TIG) uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and shielding gas that protects the welding area from contamination. TIG welding can be done in all positions, including overhead. Its concentrated heat and precise control of the arc allows thin material (0.01 inch) to be welded. Although TIG welding is a relatively slow process, compared with wire-fed MIG or flux cored, it provides high quality welds. However, it also requires greater operator skill level than the other processes.
Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Stick) uses a consumable, flux-coated electrode containing mild steel, stainless steel, cast iron or various other alloys. These electrodes are selected to match the base material being welded. Other than the power source, electrode holder and work clamp, no other equipment is required. Stick welding is more forgiving than MIG when welding on dirty or rusty metal, but not recommended for overhead welding or with thin materials.
WELD CONSULTING
Services include:
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Weld procedure generation
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Process recommendation and troubleshooting
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Preparation of materials
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Development of weld procedures
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Print Review
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Weld Fixture Design
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Prototype sample runs
Certifications
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ASME Section I Power Boilers
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ASME Section VIII Pressure Code
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ASME Section IX Welding
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ASME B31.3 Process Piping
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Unique Materials
Experience
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Pulp Mill Boilers
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Power Generation Boilers
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Custom Inconel Burners
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Custom ASME Code Pressure Vessels
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Chemical Process Equipment
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Oil and Natural Gas Process Piping and Vessels
ASME Code Welding
Quite a bit of extra work goes into completing projects that require ASME code certifications. The work starts at the front end when our engineering and QC staff collaborates with our third party inspector to obtain an approved production design. The production plan can sometimes include hold points for specific inspection criteria, NDT, or other testing. A weld map must be maintained so that every weld can be traced back to a specific welder. All of our welders must maintain certifications that document their qualification to weld on ASME code related vessels. In addition to the weld map, our welders are trained to manage the heat log in order to ensure only certified and traceable material is used on ASME code related projects. The heat number is also scribed on the part in case the tags are lost.
Even though ASME code work often involves heftier welds, it is not the welding itself that becomes the challenge. Maintaining discipline and adhering to strict procedural requirements is what allows ASME code work to flow smoothly through our shop.
PRECISION WELDING
Our welding staff have developed several techniques that allow us to succeed with the most challenging of fabrication projects. Having completed numerous one-of-a-kind pressure vessels and pipe-works, we know that a single bad weld can distort a project out of tolerance. Not to mention the impact to a project's deadline due to days of extra machining or weeks of waiting for new certified material. As a result, we have developed procedures and welding capabilities that allow us to consistently hit razor-thin tolerances and maintain critical alignments.
We have become experts at all of the various fabrication techniques such as:
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Welding heat distortion control
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Rounding out tubes and pipes for precise fit-up
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Blacksmithing rolled shells and rolled cones to meet print tolerances
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Accounting for weld distortion across multiple weld joints
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Aligning ports and seal surfaces after weld to minimize machining requirements
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Maintaining alignment with minimal fixturing and capital investment requirements
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Thin-walled tube bending and welding