Fixtures/jigs for tig welding.

[RotaryTech]

So my main idea here is to make a jig/fixtue for welding thin/small plates with the tig process.

At school they have these fixtures that you can clamp the work piece to. Whether it be a but joint, lap, T, or corner joint. The fixture provides somewhere for the heat to go. And the clamps keeps the plates from distortion.

So I want to make a fixture for home, and I need ideas.

Show me what you got.

 

[dr_clyde]

It's really hard to have a fixture that fits a range on parts. In school, you were just running beads on plates for practice. In reality, most joints are not like that.

Jigging and fixturing only makes sense if you have a quantity of parts you want to be consistent.

I'd just get a selection of copper bars and plates and use clamps. It's versatile, and will help with heat.

 

[srmofo]

I have a small spare vise I throw on the table to hold parts where I want them and then a large selection of clamps

 

[zkling]

How big is your work piece? You could make a back gassing fixture with strap clamps mostly for **** and lap welding. The problem is going to be versatility and $. Unless you are doing production I don't see the benefit in the home shop.

I'd just get a selection of copper bars and plates and use clamps. It's versatile, and will help with heat.

Make sure you are sitting when you price out "a selection of copper bars and plates"

 

[bullnerd]

http://www.stronghandtools.com/stronghandtools/products.php#pliers

 

[sqznby]

You need a jig table, not actual jigs. Unless you plan on building multiple of each piece you have in mind. It can still be done with a table. Find some machinest blocks and you should be good, or make your own. Also look around for welding clamps, they make a very wide selection for jigs and fixtures.
Stronghand has a bunch of parts for the table I'm making. They also make tables but are quite expensive.

This is an example of what I'm talking about. It's a work in progress. Not the greatest pictures but, you get the idea. This is 1/2"x2'x3' plate with 5/8" holes. I also have a 1"x2'x3' plate that I'll be doing the same to.




Copper is great, another alternative is aluminum, a lot less expensive and works just as well as copper. You'll have to clean it more if you use it as a backer though.

 

[theknurl]

for unusual pieces I use a Wilton Pow-R-Arm with a small vise mounted on it....the vise mounts on a ~1 1/4" pin vertically or side ways

I have a different brand vise but this is the idea;
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/666/666974.jpg

here is the Wilton
http://worthopedia.s3.amazonaws.com...611/09/1_2d30b8df3802a7d15d60c14458723ac1.jpg

 

[RotaryTech]

Well I finally got around to finishing my fixture.
I just used scrap metal that I had laying around.
This is what I came up with.

Ive got to plates clamped down, but they were not level so I'll need to put something underneath one plate, like I did in this picture.

I should be able to do ****, lap, & tee joints on this thing.

 

[Fifelaker]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/_OnF6_V28DM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I have most of the stuff to make this and I really need to do it.


I cannot seem to imbed on this site.... Yet.

 

[Fifelaker]

Closer.

 

[RotaryTech]

I've seen that before. Interesting.