Welding Flanges on Pipes and Shot Blasting

For the welding, what about a robot (Motoman, Panasonic, Fanuc) and some high quality fixturing. Remember the fixturing may well cost twice much or more as the robot.

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Not sure what length and type of pipe you will be welding, this could dramatically change the cost associated with fixturing and welding. If the welds can be made flat then a simple turn-table set up with a stationary MIG or flux core welding apparatus could be used for slip-on type flanges. For butt weld (weld neck) type flanges there are many different types of TIG based welding set ups so that good root penetration welds can be achieved. From my experience it is cheaper and more reliable to turn the pipe and have a stationary welding head. I have usually found that the more simple these things are the less headaches you will have. I would need more information as to what material pipe you are welding, thickness and flange design as well as available welding sources to provide more information.

Pipewelder

the mechanism proposed should be horizontal to rotate both the flange and the pipe by holding the flange under horizontal pressure to stay in position with the pipe whatever diameter it is, and also whatever length, 1 to 3 meters as in the original qauestion and either TIG or MIG welding could be used to weld. Shotblasting post welding should be done by an internal pipe blaster, but it may be difficult to blast clean pipes of small diameter like 25 mm.

Great stuff, thanks. I have heard of friction welding whee the flanges are friction welded on to rotating pipes. Any thoughts or info on this?

Pipe lengths will be 1 m to a max of 3 m

Will these be a lap joint(slip-on or socket weld) or butt weld joint flanges? What are the materials to be welded?

pipewelder

i would use a stationary weld torch with a rotating device.

we use robots too but for that application it doesnt make sense. If you go with CMT

coldmetaltransfer you might save the sandblasting.