First 10 Questions about K-TIG

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1. Will K-TIG work on my application?

K-TIG (Keyhole TIG) is a variant of GTAW, and delivers exceptional productivity across a wide range of applications. 
 
K-TIG easily handles longitudinal and circumferential welds on pipes, plates, vessels, tanks and many other applications.
 
K-TIG does not require edge bevelling, and requires only a simple square butt joint. No root gap is required. K-TIG can also be used to weld into all standard edge preparations. It can also be used in a single bevel weld joint configuration, suitable to process pipe welding applications.
 
 
 
    
Download the K-TIG Suitable Joints Guide here.

Materials

K-TIG is a precision process and is best suited to corrosion resistant materials, exotic materials and some carbon steels. 

Material Thicknesses

K-TIG's ideal thickness ranges are:
  • Austenitic Stainless Steel up to 1/2 inch (12mm) thickness
  • High quality carbon steel up to 1/4 inch (6mm) thickness
  • Duplex & Super Duplex up to 1/2 inch (12mm) thickness
  • Nickel alloys & super alloys up to 1/2 inch (12mm) thickness
  • Titanium up to 5/8 inch (16mm) thickness

If it’s thinner (1mm or 2mm), K-TIG welds in TIG (melt-in) mode. In this mode the weld will be single pass, however this isn’t considered a keyhole weld.

If it’s thicker than K-TIG's maximum penetration, outstanding productivity benefits are realised by combining a deep full-penetration K-TIG root pass, with a shallow v-prep which is filled using the K-TIG wire feeder. This equates to fewer passes, reduces fill and reduced welding times for any thickness. The filler pass can be performed by K-TIG or by another welding process. 

Joints

K-TIG is ideally suited to longitudinal, circumferential and outside corner joints. It only requires a square butt joint presentation, with no bevelling required when welding within K-TIG’s normal thickness ranges.
 

2. What are K-TIG's limitations?

Like all systems K-TIG has some limitations. Here they are, plain and simple:

Positions

The K-TIG system welds effortlessly in 1G and 2G welding positions. It’s not intended for orbital (5G/6G) applications.

Materials

Copper and aluminium cannot be welded with K-TIG. 


K-TIG can deliver exceptional results when welding high-quality carbon steel up to 1/4 inch (6mm) thickness. Examples of carbon steels that are generally suitable include: 350 grade, A106, AS1548, ASTM A709, ASTM A572, ASTM A516, ASTM A131 and most pipeline grade carbon steels.


 To ensure your success we will review your material mill certificate and we’ll weld a coupon for you. Our goal is to allow you to leverage our expertise to ensure outstanding results for your company.

Pipe Diameters

K-TIG can readily weld pipe diameters down to 4 inches NB (114mm OD). The tie-in on pipes with diameters smaller than 4 inches become challenging as the weld is completed within seconds and the tie-in (joining the beginning and end of the weld) must be performed over very hot material. Essentially K-TIG is too fast for very small diameter pipes.

  

3. Who else is using K-TIG?

We’re proud to say K-TIG has exported to 20 countries and has been adopted by some of the world's most advanced and productive fabricators.

In addition, we have seen dramatic productivity improvements in general industrial applications. Particularly in Process pipe fabrication, Pipe & Tube mills, Tank & Vessel fabrication across a wide range of industries.

Our customers range from multinationals like GE and Siemens to industry specialists such as Bilfinger, Doncasters, Sharpsville Container, Darchem, RV Industries and many others.

We actively partner with leading advanced manufacturing centers such as the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (NAMRC) in the UK, the Defence Materials Technology Centre (DMTC) in Australia and GE Global Research Centre in the US.

What productivity gains and savings can you expect in your application? Check out some case studies here.
The K-TIG controller ensures repeatability & conformity to our weld certifications. Even an inexperienced operator can simply select which program to use, and it will weld exactly how you expect it to.
Brett Jago, Production Supervisor, Bilfinger

 

4. What do I need to make the system work?

A K-TIG welding system is delivered as a fully integrated welding cell comprised of the K-TIG 1000 controller, torch, power supply, water cooler, wire feeder and torch mount with compensating slide.

The only additional requirement is some form of automation to provide consistent torch travel speed - this can be almost any kind of welding automation including rotators, positioners, turntables, seamers, carriages, robots, column and booms and many others.  During commissioning, the K-TIG controller will be integrated with your automation equipment.

 

5. How much will I save?

Customers with applications in K-TIG’s ideal thickness range and materials have reduced their welding costs by in excess of 90%.

Switching from GTAW to K-TIG

Relative to conventional TIG/GTAW welding, productivity gains and overall savings of more than 70% are typical, and savings in excess of 90% are common.

Switching from Plasma to K-TIG

Relative to Plasma Arc Welding (PAW), productivity gains of more than 50% are typical.

How are the savings achieved?

Incredibly fast welding times result in dramatic reductions in gas and power usage. Large single pass welds significantly reduce, or eliminate, grinding and reworking. Often edge bevelling is eliminated in favour of simple square butt preparations.

K-TIG can calculate your savings and productivity gains, offering:

  • Welding time comparison
  • Wire consumption comparison
  • Grinding time comparison
  • Gas consumption comparison
  • Productivity comparison

On request, K-TIG will generate a K-TIG Savings Assessment at no cost for potential customers with applications which are within K-TIG’s normal thickness ranges

  • Stainless steel up to 1/2 inch (12mm) thickness
  • Nickel alloys & super alloys up to 1/2 inch (12mm) thickness
  • Titanium up to 5/8 inch (16mm) thickness
  • High quality carbon steel up to 1/4 inch (6mm) thickness 

Customers with applications in corrosion resistant materials in an ideal thickness range generally save in excess of 90% relative to their current welding costs.

Request a K-TIG Savings Assessment to calculate the specific savings on your application.

Download a case study to review examples of customer savings.
K-TIG’s ability to virtually eliminate wire consumables has had a dramatic impact on the cost of each weld.
Brett Jago, Production Supervisor, Bilfinger

6. Will K-TIG meet code requirements?

K-TIG is a GTAW variant, not a new welding process. K-TIG is code permissible in any application in which TIG/GTAW is allowable.

ASME

K-TIG is one of a large number of GTAW modes/variants as defined by ASME.

ASME doesn’t distinguish between GTAW and it’s variants (ASME under ASME QW-256 (Essential, Supplementary Essential and Non-Essential Variables for GTAW)). GTAW and its variants are all considered the same process under ASME.

Homogenous Welding

Wire can be added to any K-TIG weld. The wire feed rate can be completely automated to suit your applications requirements and preferences.

Autogenous Welding

K-TIG can also be used without the requirement of filler material. Autogenous welding can be qualified to rules of ASME Section IX, QW-256 for K-GTAW. 

7. How difficult is K-TIG to use? 

Procedure development for a K-TIG weld typically takes minutes or hours, not days or weeks. The Keyhole TIG process is simple and can be used in broad operating windows.

Repeatability

K-TIG welds are extremely consistent. Once the procedure has been established, it can be saved to the controller. That ensures high quality, repeatable welds that are fully compliant with an approved procedure. 

 

8. What are the running costs?

The running costs of K-TIG welding systems are extremely low. K-TIG’s high speed welding significantly reduces arc-on costs, like gas and power, and system consumables are negligible.

 

With only one pass involved in most applications, there’s greatly reduced gas consumption. We’ve seen gas reductions of up to 96%.
Attila Szabo, Principal Joining Engineer, GE

 

9. Can I use my own equipment?

If the travel speed is consistent, your existing welding automation equipment can generally be used (and integrated) with the K-TIG system.

Integration

During commissioning, the K-TIG controller can be integrated with your automation equipment. The K-TIG system can be integrated very simply, or extensively so the entire welding sequence is reduced to a push-button solution. 

Welding Machine

It is necessary to use the K-TIG power unit due to the high level of integration which is required between the controller and the power unit.  It is not possible to connect the K-TIG controller to other power supplies.

 

10. Can K-TIG provide an ROI for my applications?

K-TIG can provide a detailed ROI (Return on Investment) assessment for your specific application - we call these our Weld Savings Assessment.  In general terms, the ROI on a K-TIG system can be as little as several months due to the dramatic cost reductions. 

If you are a fabricator welding corrosion resistant materials, K-TIG will review your application and provide you with a Weld Savings Assessment, at no cost. These assessments are compiled individually by our team and will be emailed to you personally. Our team will be available to you for any follow-up questions you may have regarding your assessment.

See the K-TIG Savings Assessment.
K-TIG GE Case Study

Contact Us

K-TIG USA
+1 724 720 9803 
2009 Mackenzie Way, Suite 100, Cranberry Twp, PA 16066, USA

K-TIG EUROPE, ASIA PACIFIC & MIDDLE EAST
+61 8 7324 6800
Building 5, 9 William Street, Mile End, SA 5031, Australia

Enquiries

Sales Enquiry
sales-enquiry@k-tig.com

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