Welding may be the most effective and structurally sound way to connect metal parts, but certain applications can pose a challenge. Circular parts, such as pipes and tubes, require a consistent weld that can be challenging weld to accomplish manually. Orbital welding is a semiautomatic process that allows for a quality weld of rounded parts by rotating around the static part.
The welding instrument moves around the outer circumference of the part while welding, explains Mathew Eaton, vice president of sales and marketing at Magnatec. Orbital welding is a type of fusion welding and uses the same technology as traditional gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Orbital welds are made using a tungsten heat source to create the welds. Like GTAW, orbital welding systems include three basic parts: the welding head, the power source and the cooling system.