Regional machine shops weld aluminum?
 

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone knows if the machine shops provided at Regionals typically include capabilities to weld aluminum?

I'm not looking for speculation or "yeah, I think they can", but rather a "yes, we had some aluminum welded."

Thanks in advance...

Re: Regional machine shops weld aluminum?
 

At Arizona 2004 we had some aluminum welded.

No to get off course but can we make this a thread telling all the capabilites of the regional machine shops. I'm particularly interested in a large arbor press.

Re: Regional machine shops weld aluminum?
 

The Machine Shop can weld aluminum. We rebuilt our arm on thursday to give it a new function and held it together with rivets. It sheered the rivets, so we got Steel rivets. Those stretched the holes, so we had the machine shop weld the pieces together, and they did a marvelous job.

The machine shop also has a lathe, though they were missing some tools. We needed to take a section off an old part, but they didnt have a parting tool, so they had to turn the 1/2" off instead. Took a while and made a lot of heat, but saved us.

There is also a mill, though I do not know any of the specs on it.

They also have all the normals. You know, bandsaw, beltsander, grinding wheel, etc.

In any case, we used them so much in rebuilding our arm that they started calling our head mechanic "Chief."

-Tony K

Re: Regional machine shops weld aluminum?
 

2004 Denver Regional had a TIG welder that could weld Alum.

Re: Regional machine shops weld aluminum?
 

I was standing next to you guys watching them turn down the whole thing. I thought it was pretty funny.

Re: Regional machine shops weld aluminum?
 

A Lincoln Electric TIG175 was in the machine shop at the SanJose
regional last year, and it is capable of welding Aluminum up to 1/8
inch thick. Welding thicker material would be problematic.

Re: Regional machine shops weld aluminum?
 

In 5 words, it depends on the regional.

If you could specify a regional, people could probably let you know if they had those capabilities last year (though that's no guaruntee of future availabilities).

I'd try to have a descent non-welding plan to be on the safe side either way... which I guess is obvious... but, I say obvious things sometimes!

Matt

Re: Regional machine shops weld aluminum?
 

Great Lakes and Pittsburgh both had the capability to weld aluminum, in fact the Pittsburgh machine shoped proved to be simply amazing at the speed they were crunching parts out.