The seminar began with a welcome from Peter Taylor, Director of the Company’s department of Technology and Training, who gave a brief outline of what the TIG Welding is, its history and the process that it involves.
Peter then introduced Geoff Melton, Consultant for Manufacturing Support and Arc Processes at TWI Ltd, a company based outside Cambridge. Geoff Melton summarised the various welding processes currently in use and how TIG Welding has developed since it was first experimented with in the early 1940s as a means of joining magnesium and aluminium.
In addition to TIG Welding, Geoff gave a brief synopsis of the other technologies currently available such as Plasma Arc Welding, Electrospark Deposition, Laser Welding, Laser and Arc SMD/DMD, Friction Stir Welding, Micro Friction Stir Welding, Friction Pulse Bonding, Cold Spray Process and Electron Beam Process.
Geoff’s concluding message was that welding technologies involve highly versatile processes which are equally useful and applicable for large scale industry as well as the silversmithing and jewellery industry and would become even more so in time as new developments and improvements were made.
Having been shown a glimpse of the wider picture, the current relevance of TIG Welding was then demonstrated by silversmith and designer, Hector Miller. Hector explained how he first looked into the possibilities of TIG Welding back in the late 1980s. This initial foray was one of those “rare, eureka moments” and he quickly realised that it had the potential “to open a door to a whole new world of silversmithing”.
With the aid of diagrams and illustrative material Hector described his own early experiments with TIG Welding and gave practical advice on not only the process involved but the equipment required and issues of health and safety. While he admitted that it did not replace traditional silversmithing skills, such as soldering, it provided him with a creative freedom which was not only “liberating but exciting and satisfying”.
A question and answer session followed after which the delegates were able to view a selection of welding equipment available as well as admire work designed and made by Hector using TIG Welding, before taking the opportunity for some serious networking.
Designer silversmith Martyn Pugh who attended the event said afterwards, “It was excellent – very informative. I had heard about TIG Welding two years ago but hadn’t got round to investigating it. The Goldsmiths’ Company’s industry seminar did my research for me. I think TIG Welding is probably one of the most useful technical processes currently available to a small silversmithing workshop and I am definitely going to be making the investment. The whole evening, as well as the technical reports which accompany these industry events, was of genuine use to the trade”.
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Last Updated 11th May 2005 |
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