Orbital Welders

Orbital welding is a specialised welding process used for joining pipes and tubes. It involves automation of TIG or MIG welding, producing precise, consistent and repeatable results.

Orbital welding works by employing a computerised power source to control the movement of the welding torch around the workpiece. The welding arc is rotated around a fixed pipe or tube, combined with the axial movement of the welding torch along the joint, encased in a welding head.

Yes, orbital welding is considered a form of hot work. Hot work generally refers to any operation that involves open flames, sparks, or generates heat and has the potential to ignite flammable materials or gases. In the case of orbital welding, an electric arc is generated between the welding torch and the workpiece, producing heat to melt and fuse the base materials.

Orbital welding is used in various industries where high-quality, precise, and consistent welds are required. Industries and applications where the benefits of automation, precision, and consistency outweigh the initial investment and operating costs associated with the technology.

These include hygienic welds in water systems, chemical processing, semi-conductor manufacturing and the food and beverage industry.

Orbital welding is a welding technique that falls under automatic or automated welding. It is not a specific welding process like Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) or Gas Metal Arc Welding (MIG/MAG), but rather a method that can be applied using various welding processes.

The most renowned orbital welding machine brands include AMI (Arc Machines), Swagelok, Orbitalum, and Axxair. Other manufacturers include Polysoude, Magnatech, ESAB, and Fronius.
Use the filter on the left hand side to search our machines by brand/manufacturer.

The choice of shielding gas in orbital welding depends on the welding process being used and the materials being welded. Typically for orbital TIG welding, argon is the most common choice, providing an inert atmosphere helping to protect the weld pool from atmospheric contamination. For MIG welding applications, common shielding gases include argon, carbon dioxide (Co2) and argon-Co2 mixtures, which you choose would depend on the material being welded. Find out more here.

While orbital welding offers many advantages, it also has certain limitations that should be considered when deciding whether to use this technique for a particular application.

• Cost - orbital welding machines are expensive to purchase and maintain.
• They are complex and time-consuming to to set up compared with manual welding.
• Orbital welding heads can be a challange to use in tight or crowded pipe layouts, with special equipment often needed for use.
• Adequate training is required for proper use and set up, this cannot be underestimated due to the nature of work in which they are used for.
• Material thickness considerations; orbital welding is generally only used for thin to medium material thickness.

Ultimately, the choice between orbital welding and manual welding depends on the requirements of the application, the desired level of precision, and factors such as productivity, cost considerations, and the availability of skilled personnel. Using an orbital welding machine will give you greater precision and consistency, as well as productivity. However the costs involved are much higher and the process is not as versatile as manual welding. There will need to be a balance between the advantages and limitations to decide which is best to use for the job at hand.