Overview
No Stick Welding Nozzles (2003-304)
Project Team:
- Bender Shipbuilding & Repair
- Jeffboat, LLC
- Northrop Grumman Ship Systems
- General Dynamics Bath Iron Works
- Alspi
- Edison Welding Institute
2002
NSRP ASE Investment: $33K
Objective:
The goal of this project was to develop and deploy welding nozzles made from metal which would significantly reduce, or even eliminate, the amount of spatter and slag that adheres to the nozzles during welding operations. The project team found that nozzles made of a copper-tellurium mix were significantly more durable in high heat conditions, more wear resistant and far less susceptible to slag adhesion, but the operational savings were not sufficient to justify the costs associated with machining Cu-Te. However, tests on nozzles made from a different material showed as much as a 3:1 improvement in nozzle life — and a commensurate reduction in non-productive time spent cleaning and changing the nozzle — with only a 2:1 cost increase.
Key Deliverables:
Final Report – Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited