Huntingdon Fusion Techniques (HFT)’s flexible welding enclosures are available for a fraction of the cost of a rigid welding chamber, providing a technically viable option to the very expensive rigid metal chambers. Size for size, these enclosures cost considerably less than a metal glove box or a vacuum system, with a very fast purging time down to a few ppm of oxygen. The welding enclosures are ideal for small production quantities of items that need total gas coverage as well as single large items with critical joints.
A combination of translucent material and optically clear sheet is used depending on the viewing requirements of the customer. Large access zips are fitted to each enclosure and additional entry points can be provided for operators’ gloves. A service panel incorporates access ports for welding torches, electrical leads and water-cooling supplies and a purge gas entry port and exhaust valve are also manufactured as standard to vent displaced gas into the atmosphere.
Flexible welding enclosures are used by companies such as British Airways, Airbus, Pratt and Whitney, Lufthansa, Senior Engineering and Shapes Aerospace International along with many other companies in the aerospace field.
Operator comfort and ease of use versus the disagreeable conditions found with a rigid plastic or metal chamber make the flexible versions a big hit with welding personnel. The manufacturers of these Flexible Enclosures are HFT along with their technically trained Worldwide Exclusive Distributor Network.
Ron Sewell, chairman for HFT, said: “There are many requirements within the aerospace industry for welding zones to be purged of oxygen down to as low as 10 ppm, which can be a problem when companies see the high costs of traditional metal chambers. Our Flexible welding enclosures are an ideal solution.”
HFT has spearheaded a drive to design systems specifically for the welding industry. The company has been at the forefront in developing these enclosures for many years and has exploited the opportunities offered by advanced engineering polymers.
