MIG is an abbreviation for the term "metal inert gas." First developed during the Second World War, MIG welding gave manufacturers a much more efficient way to weld huge numbers of aluminum parts for weapons and equipment. The introduction of MIG welding technology early in the war had an immediate and important impact on the war effort for the United States and the Allies.
With automated MIG welding, a robotic welding arm controls the motion and placement of a contact tip holding a MIG "gun." This gun is fed a spool of solid-steel wire through a liner.
When activated, the contact tip on the gun is electrically charged, melts the wire and forms a weld puddle. At the same time, inert gas flows out of the gun and keeps the weld puddle shielded from the atmosphere, allowing a weld to join two metal surfaces.
Companies are using advanced welding cells designed for high speed, long production runs of high quality welded parts. This modern mig welding technology offers numerous advantages to companies in need of affordable precision welding.
Cells such as the Lincoln Electric System10 at Ohio Laser have many feature:
Fanuc ARC Mate 100 iB/6s robot with a 37" reach to accommodate precision welding in tight spaces
Dual fixed welding work station with automatic interlocked access doors allows for simultaneous part loading and unloading when welding
A metal surround flash barrier and bi-fold doors with interlocks
450 amp, 100% duty cycle STT welding technology power supply
Lower splatter, distortion, and smoke compared to other systems
To enable cost effective welding, specialized tooling, engineering and programming capabilities are available
Automated arc welding capabilities add to the universe of value added fabrication services at Ohio Laser. The company's wide array of fabricating competencies include flat sheet metal, tube and pipe laser cutting, advanced high accuracy bending, engineering with 2D, 3D CAD/CAM software, complying with PPAP from Level I to Level IV and offering welding processes GMAW, FCAW, and GTAW.
In addition the company does heat treating and finishing, water jet cutting, sanding and grinding services, assembly and packaging, and machining of various alloys.
Ohio Laser serves many manufacturing industries in the United States and Canada including food equipment, point of display, automobile, heavy industrial equipment, retail, and medical devices.
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