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IMPROVED MANUFACTURING THROUGH BRAZING AUTOMATION
Eutectic UK have created an automated solder ring process to create joints that previously would have been welded or brazed, leading to increased productivity and large time and cost savings. Brazing is a high strength joining method that has been used to join metal parts for over 2000 years. Whilst there have been many developments in products and manufacturing processes available, the basic principle remains the same. In contrast to welding, where the joining process involves melting the base material(s) and therefore changing the structure, brazing takes place below the melting temperature of the parent metal and uses capillary attraction and/or fusing to produce the finished result. "Whilst brazing is often the tried and tested method of fabrication for a multitude of tubular steel components," comments Tim Pople, Product Manager - Brazing at Eutectic UK, "recent development work carried out suggests this is not the only solution. Our customers have achieved substantial increases in productivity, and manufacturing performance with reductions in processes required and significant cost savings." The picture shows part of a tubular steel construction, made using lead-free tin/silver "soft" solder, replacing the brass-alloy weld-brazing fillet joint previously used. The solder process allows a full capillary joint to be obtained, considerably enhancing the visual aspect, with no detrimental effect on the integrity of the finished part. A further novel feature is the use of hot air to melt the solder, using a fully integrated semi-automatic system which creates very strong joints without introducing undesirable stresses, strains and metal dilution. The Eutectic product range contains over 40 products; all designed for specific applications in a variety of industries and include pastes, alloys, fluxes and rods.
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