5083 Aluminium

[Hitch]

Need to do a load of ally plate butt joints.
Once joined, its all going to be rolled.

Material is 5083 ally 10mm thick
Gas, Alumaxx.
Wire 5356....

Running it through a Selco Genesis 352.

As its all going to be rolled, it needs to be spot on.
Been a longtime since i did any aluminium MIG.

Prepped one plate to 45degs each side, as i can weld from both sides.
I was going with that and about a 1.5-2mm gap.
Weld one side, turn over, grind out and weld....
Its going to want some preheat..... need to get the pepper pot out.


Any thoughts... on the preheating especially....

 

[aametalmaster]

I suppose they are pretty large sheets? I would lay them on a clean steel table and clamp or weight them down. Then put some good sized tacks in your vee's. Don't worry about burning thru as the steel makes a great backing. Then you can preheat ahead of your welding torch. I would start in the middle and work your way out if you have real wide parts. Then flip it over and grind out what you need to get to the clean root and start the process over. I see no problems...Bob

 

[Hitch]

Yes, they are reasonably sized, 3m x 1.5m sheets. Probably end up doing it on the floor. A bit of flat as a backer.

 

[julieanncharters]

any thoughts on controling distortion.
welding Aluminum flat sheets with butt welds and no strong backs usually ends up in a wavey pile of expensive scrap .

v both plates 60degrees using a router/tct blade ,quick and gives perfect joint prep.
decent size run on run off plates will give good preheat before welding actual material.
Have a m8 who does lloyds Aluminum ships stuff and they sometimes pre heat to approx 300degrees with rose then use one of them point and read temp guns to check ,also use run on run off plates if open ends.
depends on thickness of material.
temporary backing 2 passes 1 side flip over back chip root clean then cover pass.
for back chip i use 4" tct blade in angle grinder with modified guard to set depth it cuts.
looks like a mini circular saw ,less chance of loosing fingers.
current @ 260amp on my synergic murex ,can't comment on your inverter set.