What is the benefit of an infrared camera in the development of welding torches?

A torch neck and its wear parts are exposed to very high thermal loads during welding. The warmer a welding torch gets, the worse it is for its service life. If, on the other hand, a welding torch remains cool during welding, its wear parts are longer usable. During torch development, great importance is therefore attached to keeping the front end of a welding torch as cool as possible. In the ABICOR BINZEL research and development laboratory ARCLab, among the approx. 100 measuring, testing and analysis systems for torches and wear parts, there is a test rig on which the heating of a torch during the welding process can be made visible.

Infrared camera for the welding torch test

On this test rig in the ARCLab, a thermal camera or infrared camera visualises the components of a welding torch that are visible from the outside. With the help of additional thermocouples, the heat development of internal components such as the contact tip, gas nozzle or contact tip holder can also be viewed. The results are documented and evaluated and provide information about any optimisation potential for the torch itself as well as the wear parts. Please also have a look at this video:

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