Put simply, the welding torch is everything from the start of the hosepack up to the gas nozzle. A MIG welding torch, therefore, includes the connection between the torch and the union nut plus the shielding gas hosepack, as well as the various conduits, such as the protective hose, water inlet and outlet for water-cooled torches, power cable, gas hose, and inner liner.
Cross section of the welding torch and hosepack
The welding torch package also includes the handle with torch trigger and the torch neck with wearing parts such as the gas nozzle, contact tip, nozzle fitting and spatter guard. All together, a standard model measures up to six meters in length.
When purchasing a welding torch, it is important to look at the amperage. It makes no sense to use a 600 A welding torch with a power source that can only put out up to 220 A, nor to fit a high performance welding system with the smallest available torch. Your MIG/MAG welding torch should always be suitable for the maximum power range of your power source.
Gas-cooled or Water-cooled?
Another key question is whether to opt for gas or water-cooled. It’s a bit like buying a motorbike—should you go for the air-cooled single cylinder engine or the water-cooled four-cylinder one? The fact is water-cooled designs are often more durable and certainly boast better handling.
And welding systems are no different: Anyone who has used a welding system with water cooling right up to the tip of the gas nozzle will tell you how smooth the torch control felt and how easy it was to handle. Plus, water-cooled systems last longer and provide more power. Air-cooled welding torches are not suitable for higher amperages, whereas water-cooled torches continue to perform well at amperages up to 200 A higher.
TIG welding torches
TIG welding torches mean powerful technology for the very demanding and precise work involved in TIG welding. The wear parts system of these TIG torches is so extensive that each one can be ideally adapted to the needs of the welder and the accessibility to the component – with maximum process reliability. The very flexible, lightweight cable assemblies of the TIG torches can be easily handled and brought into other individual comfort positions. Ideal for the highest technical demands!
When speaking of welding equipment for tungsten inert gas welding (TIG), TIG welding torches are the subject. The small, powerful, flexible TIG torches stand for sophisticated technology for the very demanding and precise work involved in TIG welding.
Advantages of plasma welding: Often-overlooked PAW offers speed and affordability
Plasma Welding Torch sometimes offers greater welding speed than GTAW at lower cost than LBW, and it may be the most effective process for many applications. These include welding stainless steel expandable bellows, where PAW is more tolerant to joint misalignment than LBW and gives better penetration than GTAW; welding coated steels like those used in automotive exhaust systems; and welding in keyhole mode to make full-penetration welds in relatively thick material in a single pass.
While PAW is not as fast as LBW (depending on the application and laser source, LBW may be five times faster than PAW) or EBW, the capital equipment costs for PAW are typically a small fraction of the cost of the high-energy density equipment.
One disadvantage of PAW is its greater heat input, which produces wider welds and heat-affected zones than LBW and EBW. This may result in more distortion and loss of mechanical properties.
However, PAW offers an advantage over these processes in tolerance to joint gaps and misalignment. Although the arc is constricted, the plasma column has a significantly larger diameter than the beams. Adding filler metal also is accomplished more easily with PAW than with LBW or EBW.
