Welding Fabrication
Welding fabrication is a common solution that Murphy provides for our various clients.
Welding fabrication is a common solution that Murphy provides for our various clients. While welding and fabrication are considered separate tasks, they often go hand in hand. Welding is a process of joining together two or more pieces of material. High heat is used for the joining process, fusing together the two materials. Once the pieces have cooled down, they are tested to ensure bonding. Fabrication is a process where structures of metal are made by cutting, bending, and custom assembling.
While fabrication welding can be performed by specialists such as welders, at Murphy this work is commonly performed by a millwright. Millwright services are performed by experienced millwrights who take a more complete approach to a welding and fabrication project, ensuring everything fits together for a perfect fit at the end. This is one of the things that sets Murphy apart from other welding fabricators.
Aspects of Welding and Fabrication
While fabrication welding is mostly done on metal, other materials such as plastics and some wood-based materials can be welded together as well. The original material from a project is called the parent material, while the material used to create the joint is called filler. The filler is introduced to the parent material with heat.
There are four different types of welding, each with its own use and way to introduce the filler.
Mig Welding
Requiring a shielding gas to protect the molten weld metal from reacting with elements present in the atmosphere, Metal Inert Gas (MIG) or gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is a type of welding that is done by heating metals with the help of an arc.
Mig welding is most commonly used for thicker materials or larger welding areas. While the use of MIG welding fabrication can work with alloys or combination metals, it is generally used for magnesium, copper, aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steel, bronze, and nickel.
Tig Welding
Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), or as it’s more commonly called Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, is an arc welding process that produces the weld with a non-consumable tungsten electrode. Tig welding is used for many industrial applications, such as in aviation and aerospace, and in sheet metal-related industries, but it is most commonly used in pipe welding such as in pipelines.
The difference between Mig welding and Tig welding has to do with how the arc is used. MIG (metal inert gas) welding uses a feed wire that constantly moves through the gun to create the spark, then melts to form the weld, while TIG welding uses long rods to fuse two metals directly together. This is common, although more advanced welding and fabrication technique that Murphy is adept at offering.
Stick Welding
One of the most common forms of fabrication welding stick welding is perhaps the most versatile form of welding, with the ability to be performed even in windy, outdoor conditions. This common and reliable form of welding is used for a variety of common applications and works with ferrous metals like iron and steel as well as aluminum, nickel, copper, and other alloys.
Stick welding can also be called manual electrode welding, manual metal arc welding, shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), or manual arc welding. No shielding gas is required which makes it much more versatile.
Flux Cored Arc Welding
Similar to metal active gas (MAG) welding, flux cored arc welding (FCAW) or dual shield welding, is a semi-automatic arc welding process.
Like in Tig welding, Flux-cored arc welding uses a continuously fed tubular cored consumable filler wire that is heated to fuse a base metal at a joint. Because it offers greater penetration, Flux-core welding is often used for thicker joints. This welding fabrication method is often used in general repairs, shipbuilding, and general manufacturing.
Trusted Welding Fabricators
Welding fabrication can be done in a variety of different patterns. There are full penetration welds that have filler material all the way through the parent material and partial fills that only need a small amount of filler. Fabrication welding can also be done on a single run or a multi-run. Single-run welds are done in one pass and have a clean line, while multi-run welds have many layers in the filler material. The right filler is important for a strong bond between the two parent materials and choosing the right weld type is crucial for fitment, aesthetics, and strength.
Our team is trained to ensure the right type of welding fabrication is done for each job and safety is a top priority for all Murphy Rigging jobs. Special, high-end tools are used for welding jobs and PPE such as masks, helmets, and specialized goggles are used to ensure the welder and all surrounding people are safe.
Welding is a craft that can take years to master and our team has the right training and expertise to make sure all welding and fabrication on our jobs is accurate, strong, and done right. Our team of welding fabrication specialists can also provide best-in-class service as needed for specialized or large-scale fabrication welding jobs. We have certified welders on staff ready to take on any job!
When you’re working with machinery installations that need to be precise, accurate, and strong, consider Murphy to help with your rigging services, heavy machinery installation, welding fabrication, and other fabrication welding related work.