Transcript:

To get work done quickly and reliably is really important on today’s jobs. At Midwest Fasteners, we know that easy to use portable stud welding can be helpful to install all types of fasteners in a fast and practical way. And we know that Midwest Fasteners can help.

Weld Pins, sometimes called “Weld Nails”, can be welded using Capacitor Discharge stud welding, a process that is often called “CD” welding for short.

This is a portable welding process which uses readily-available electric power from an everyday, one-hundred-and-ten-volt power outlet.

In addition to being portable, CD Welding Systems have:

• simple components
• work quickly
• and can be used on sheet metal thickness material to apply a variety of Welded Fasteners using capacitor discharge welding

Using the CD process for Pin welding offers a strong weld quickly and reliably to impale insulating materials. It can be used with Stainless & Mild Steel, even coated and Galvanized materials, plus Aluminum; with no burn-through of the metal, and no special welding setup.

The process of Capacitor Discharge welding occurs in a series of 4 fast steps:

• Contact
• Ignition
• Placement of the Pin and
• “Completion” of the Weld

The standard, portable CD system consists of:

• The Controller [ or Power Unit] which is plugged into the one-hundred-and-ten-volt outlet.
• The CD Gun with Cables is used to command the power unit and deliver weld current, with the Gun also serving as the Pin holder to properly place the pin during welding.
• Then, on the other side of “the circuit” a ground cable and clamping connection is attached to the work-surface to complete our Capacitor Discharge connections.
• And finally, special Accessories are used to hold the Pin in the Gun.

These parts make up the CD weld system.

It is critical to set the gun up properly to allow these steps and components to go into action, and to allow pins to weld reliably. There are several ways to set up for Pin-welding with the MIDWEST CD portable pin welder.

First, the simple part called the “Bullet” Collet .

This type Collet requires no additional parts and can be used on Pins up to 4” long.

To install this accessory, prepare the C.D. Gun, by loosening the screws at the end of the gun shaft to accept the Collet. At the same time, loosen the set screw on each gun leg.

Before installing the Collet, make sure the Collet is the proper size for the pin and diameter to be welded.

Insert the Bullet-collet into the Gun until it “seats” and stops fully.

Next, tighten the set screws (in this case 2 of them) and check to see that the Gun is free and clear to operate smoothly during the weld.

With the Collet installed, insert a Weld pin fully into the Collet until it stops. Slide the Leg and Foot Assembly until you have only an eighth-of-an-inch of pin sticking out past the foot. This is called “proper protrusion” and is critical to allow the Welder, Pin and Capacitor Discharge Welding Process to perform properly.

Once the eighth-inch is set, tighten both set screws to keep the foot steady.

If your job requires different length pins to be used, make this adjustment to each pin length to be welded, always ending with the critical eighth-inch of protrusion.

That completes set up of The Bullet Collet and you are ready to weld. Just:

• Load
• Contact
• and Apply

Use of the standard “B” Collet and “B” Stop are similar and can be used for lots of applications as another accessory option. Installation of these accessories occurs as before, as does the final C.D. Gun set up.

Prepare the C.D. Gun the same way, by loosening the screws at the end of the gun shaft, and also on the underside of the gun faceplate.

Remember again, to make sure your accessories are the proper size for the pin and diameter to be welded.

This time, first insert a proper length “Stop” Into the Collet. Then put this assembly into the Gun until it “seats” and stops fully.

Next, tighten the set screws and check to see that the Gun is free and clear to operate.

Now, with the Collet & Stop installed, insert a pin into the Collet, again fully, until it stops. Slide the Legs and Foot until you have the eighth-of-an-inch of pin sticking out assuring proper protrusion and weld timing. Once the eighth-inch is set, tighten both set screws to keep the foot firm during welding.

Again, if your job requires different length pins to be used make this adjustment to each pin length to be welded—always ending with the proper eighth-inch of protrusion.

Welding is simple:

• load
• contact
• and Weld

For an easy setup that requires fewer Collets in the long run, many users prefer a “Collet Protector”. This option gives longer Collet life and allows many length pins to be welded from the same setup; it also prevents “TOO MUCH” pin stick-out, a condition that can cause problems on pin jobs requiring lengths of 6 inches and longer.

Installing accessory parts in this way is also simple. With the gun prepared for accessories, install a Collet (properly sized for pin and diameter) into the gun shaft and tighten it down.

[NOTE: we are using NO stop or other accessory inside the Collet or C.D. Gun]

Next, install a Collet Protector Assembly “over” the Collet. The Collet Protector should also be properly sized to your pin diameter. Tighten it down by the set screws which are part of the Collet Protector Body.

With these parts in place, make the protrusion adjustment until one-eighth inch of pin shows past the “Foot” again, and tighten down the leg screws.

If there is NO change in the pin diameter, then no change needs to be made in your Gun or Accessory setup. With the Collet Protector in use, any length pin is now exposed with proper protrusion at the weld end.

Also Collet life is prolonged versus use of the standard B Collet because it is “protected” from the weld, as well as protected from damage in pull-away or in use.

The design of the MIDWEST C.D. gun allows long pins to protrude through the gun as far as needed, thus preserving the timing-tip exposure which we have set at the weld head of the Pin. Loading and welding goes smoothly, even with different length pins.

And finally, where placement requires Pin-welding to operate in a recess, or where extra “stick out” is needed to get the fastener “TO” the work surface; the MIDWEST C.D. gun and it’s special design, can accept another set of accessories to set-up these jobs with what is called an “Internal Stop”.

Removing the rear-cap from the MIDWEST C.D. Gun exposes the back side of the gun shaft. Made with internal threading, this shaft will accept a “stop-holder” and a “stop”.

Size the stop to accommodate the long pin to be used. (For extra assistance consult the MIDWEST Equipment manuals, accessory parts lists, or your MIDWEST Distributor.)

With the stop mounted in the “Holder”, install this assembly into the shaft and replace the Gun’s Main Spring & Rear Cap.

Now install a “B” Collet just like before, with NO stop; allowing the pin to pass down-into the gun.

The fastener will be stopped at a set point by the internal stop and set-up can proceed with adjustment of the foot-and-legs, one-eighth inch protrusion and welding.

With any MIDWEST Gun accessories shown you can get fast welded results with the C.D. stud welding process.

Midwest Fasteners’ Capacitor Discharge stud welders can cycle for 15-20 welds per minute, and material can be installed quickly and cleanly, using only one-hundred-and-ten-volt power, with reliably welded fasteners, one-after-another,and all with good holding-power to support materials of all types.

For more information on Pin Welding and CD Stud Welding, please visit our website at MidwestFasteners.com

Transcript:

At Midwest Fasteners, we know that getting work done quickly and reliably is really important these days, and we have a way to help with that. Easy to use, easy-to-install Cuphead Weld Pins.

It’s a fast and practical way to get jobs done less expensively, quickly and reliably.

Cuphead Weld Pins, sometimes called “Mini” Cups, can be applied using Capacitor Discharge stud welding, a process often called “CD” welding for short.

The Cuphead pin is used to erect-and-install insulating materials all in one pass saving money by doing the fastening work quickly, and with a reliable welded fastener.

Cuphead C.D. welding is a portable process which uses readily-available electric power from an everyday, one-hundred-and-ten-volt power outlet.

In addition to being portable, CD Welding Systems have:

• simple components
• they work quickly
• and can be used on sheet metal thickness material to apply Cuphead Weld Pins and a variety of Welded Fasteners using the capacitor discharge method.

The process of Capacitor Discharge welding occurs in a series of 4 instant steps:

• Contact
• Ignition
• Placement of the Stud or Pin
• and, “Completion” of the Pin Weld

We’ll use a standard MIDWEST Portable C.D. system to install the Cuphead.

Here’s how to set up for proper installation of Cuphead Weld Pins.

Using the standard, portable CD system, we see it consists of:

• a Controller [or Power Unit] which is plugged into one-hundred-and-ten-volt power.
• the CD Gun with Cables which is used to control the power unit, to deliver weld current as it serves as the Pin holder, and also to place the pin properly during welding.
• a ground cable and clamping connection which is attached to the work to provide the rest of “the circuit” to our weld system.

And finally, special Accessories to fit the “Pin” to the Gun. These parts make up the CD system and we are ready to install the Cuphead weld pin.

The Gun is prepared with a Magnetic Chuck as the accessory which is needed for this type fastener.

Cuphead pins, properly sized and of the proper type for the material, are held in contact with the gun prior to welding by the Magnetic chuck–either on the gun or pre-placed in the material.

In this case with insulation material in place, the gun-mounted pin first pierces the material, making contact with the metal surface to be insulated. Light pressure is applied to the gun by the installer, the trigger is pulled, and the CD process completes the weld just that quickly.

The equipment now recovers, instantly, as you break contact with the welded pin, and is ready for the next weld.

The Cuphead weld shows NO backside burn-through with the weld providing good strength from the bond.

The Strength of the cuphead weld is to provide support of material installed and to prevent pull-away of material once welded. To properly strength test a cuphead weld, pull away by exerting pressure from the underside of the welded fastener-head.

Since the CD process can deliver 15-20 welds per minute, material is installed quickly and cleanly.

C.D. Cuphead one-hundred-and-ten volt systems can weld as quickly as you:

• Load
• Contact
• and Apply

When applying through FSK or “foil-faced” material, always use an “insulated” Cuphead…one with a paper-covering on the underside of the washer-head. This prevents arcing and burning of the foil face during welding.

Apply light pressure, about one-eighth of an inch of down-force, on the gun & gun spring during the entire welding cycle. This allows the burn-off process of the Cuphead CD weld to occur properly and creates the strongest weld bond possible.

Cuphead pin length should allow for this burn-off, and many users DO prefer a Pin about one-eighth inch longer than the material to be installed.

Finally, be sure to pull the gun away “after” the weld cycle is complete—many operators like to wait for just a second longer after the trigger pull to assure that the welding is complete before moving the gun.

Best results come if you do NOT pull-away during the weld, making sure the cycle is complete before re-loading.

The finished Cuphead weld shows the advantages of Capacitor Discharge welding; with NO backside distortion or burn-through. The weld provides good strength from the bond, and fastening is created in a short cycle which exhibits strength sufficient to support materials without falling down or pulling loose.

Midwest Fasteners’ Capacitor Discharge stud welding is fast, reliable, and gives superior weld strength on Cuphead weld pins and many types of fasteners.

For more information on Cuphead and CD Stud Welding, please visit our industry-leading website at MidwestFasteners.com

Transcript:

Capacitor Discharge, often called “CD” welding for short, is characterized by the use of everyday power from an ordinary one-hundred-and-ten volt electrical outlet. This process is part of a larger family of fastening methods known as Stud Welding, or “Pin” Welding.

At Midwest Fasteners, we know that saving time is crucial to all types of operations. And easy to use, portable studwelding can be used to install many varieties of fasteners.

Since equipment setup is critical to getting the job done properly, let’s take a look at how Midwest Fasteners can help.

CD Welding Systems use readily-available, everyday electricity, and this is only one of the things that makes them:

• very portable
• made up of simple, light-weight parts,
• able to work in short, low-temperature, weld cycles,
• and used on sheet metal thickness material to create high strength welded fasteners in lots of types.

From this we get strength, speed and reliability by a simple process.

Capacitor Discharge studwelding occurs in 4 instant steps.

• Contact
• Ignition
• Placement of the Stud (or ‘closing the Gap’)
• and, “Bonding” of the Weld

For a closer look at setting up the C.D. stud, or pin, “welder” we’ll use a standard portable Midwest Fasteners Capacitor Discharge system.

First, the main unit is called the power unit, or “Controller”. It connects to one-hundred-and-volt or “wall power”. Some units have detachable power cords, some come with a power cord connected.

Next, the Capacitor Discharge gun is connected by Weld and Control Cables to the power unit. These hook-ups will provide signal to the unit from the gun and pass the weld charge during the actual weld cycle.

Each Capacitor Discharge stud welding system also has a Ground Cable, which is essential to “complete” the circuit for the weld cycle.

Finally, proper accessories are needed to prepare the gun for welding a specific type and size of fastener.

These components make up the “contact” capacitor discharge stud welding system as provided by all MIDWEST Fasteners CD portables.

Now, here’s a closer look at how to hook up a Capacitor Discharge stud welding unit.

Keep safety in mind in the operation of StudWelding and all types of power equipment. Always observe local and job-related safety practices, and keep in mind that this is electrical equipment capable of producing substantial power and voltages. Be sure to consult Manuals for your equipment and review trade-related guidelines for best practices under all conditions.

Connect the Ground Cable to the Unit, based on unit markings provided on the Control Unit.

Also, note here, some units have special “hook ups” for Ground connection based on the welding to be done, something like “CD” or “Cuphead”. If so, follow those markings.

You will also have a simple, single ground connection port.

Complete “grounding the work” by connecting the Ground Clamp to the metal to be welded. Make sure that this connection is tight and “clean” at all times.

Most stud welding is set up in “straight” polarity with the Ground “Positive” and the Gun providing the “Negative” pole for weld flow. Reverse polarity is also an available hook-up and can be used in some applications. Consult your References and Stud welding suppliers if you need to know more.

Next, the Gun is connected to the Power Unit by two cables:

• a weld cable,
• and a control line

Again, manufacturers provide markings to assist in helping to set up and connect properly. In each case, make sure the connections are sound and tight plus “locked” into place properly with their connector.

Finally make your power connection with the Power Cord.

Remember, easy hook up and portability allow you to “use” the CD system virtually anywhere, and only one-hundred-and-ten volt “everyday” electricity is needed.

Finally, select and properly install the right Accessories in, an on the CD gun. This is done based on the type and size of fasteners to be welded with the CD system. All connections here should be tight and complete; just as with the cable connections before.

With these simple steps completed, you can turn the Controller ON and your Capacitor Discharge system is ready-to-weld for stud, or pin, welding.

Simply:

• Load
• Contact
• Weld

With that you have fast installation, reliable results, with a high quality weld.

A weld that is strong, even under substantial loads through a bond that is formed immediately, and that will fail in the fastener BEFORE it fails in the weld under tests.

Capacitor Discharge stud welding and Midwest Fasteners’ CD portable equipment is fast, reliable, and gives superior weld strength on many types of fasteners.

For more information on CD Stud Welding, please visit our industry leading website at MidwestFasteners.com