Bend Testing
Part of the album: FRCC Weld Training
To become a "certified welder" you have to pass this test. Basically, you take two plates and weld them together at the ends (called a butt weld). We were using 3/8" steel plate, which required 5-6 beads to fill the gap. Once finished welding, they had to be cut into strips (using the oxy-acetylene torches) and grinded completely down - a process which took more time than prepping them. There was a whole list of criteria for a "successful" test. The instructor told us up front that the expectation was for everyone to fail them. It takes several years before anyone can become perfect at welding, not something he expected any of us to do. My welds failed the test, but were still very strong welds. I'll post pictures of the actual test strips tomorrow and explain a few things about them. The testing apparatus used a hydraulic cylinder at 1900 foot-pounds of pressure to bend these plates.
All the photos posted today were taken with my phone camera, since my nice camera isn't really something I want to bring into a shop like that.
To become a "certified welder" you have to pass this test. Basically, you take two plates and weld them together at the ends (called a butt weld). We were using 3/8" steel plate, which required 5-6 beads to fill the gap. Once finished welding, they had to be cut into strips (using the oxy-acetylene torches) and grinded completely down - a process which took more time than prepping them. There was a whole list of criteria for a "successful" test. The instructor told us up front that the expectation was for everyone to fail them. It takes several years before anyone can become perfect at welding, not something he expected any of us to do. My welds failed the test, but were still very strong welds. I'll post pictures of the actual test strips tomorrow and explain a few things about them. The testing apparatus used a hydraulic cylinder at 1900 foot-pounds of pressure to bend these plates.
All the photos posted today were taken with my phone camera, since my nice camera isn't really something I want to bring into a shop like that.
