Steel wedge

[Bodge Job]

I have some 4mm steel, and I was wondering, if I welded brackets to the back, would the surface of the wedge disform? If so, how can I prevent it? Thanks

[typhoon_driver]

Re: Steel wedge

What will it be up against? Non spinners it will be fine, spinners it may well deform and be damaged but it will be hard wearing and rugged. I'd just swap it for hardox if you are worried

[RogueTwoRobots]

Re: Steel wedge

Are you meaning will it deform from heat distortion during welding?
Quite possibly; I welded Drumroll's hardox armour back together but it distorted a bit and I'll need to correct the next time I'm welding.

The only things I can suggest, based on my limited welding knowledge, is to not keep welding one area for too long. Too much concentrated heat for too long is what will cause deformation. Also, it might be a bit excessive for basic robot welding but you could go for a bit of pre-welding heat-treatment. Stick your armour in the oven for a while (as hot as it will go) so that the entire part is hot prior to welding. This helps spread the load of heat being dumped into the wedge as it is nearer to the temperature of the welding than it would be if the wedge was cold, therefore it is less likely to deform.

Not a very hi-tech explanation, but that's sort of what I picked up from a year's worth of lectures

[Bodge Job]

Re: Steel wedge

Ok, thanks, I may change it to hardox in the future, but not for the moment... And Im not going to be welding much, so hopefully it wont deform to much...

[typhoon_driver]

Re: Steel wedge

Take a large hammer, raise hammer above head, strike metal plate hard, check for deformation, smile at lack of deformation, drink a beer

[Bodge Job]

Re: Steel wedge

Yeh, I have welded it now, but the welds looks pretty rubbish though, but it hasnt deformed or any thing, and the welds are only on the underside of the wedge, so it's not to bad..