shortening an in-line bracelet using pulse-arc welding techniques

7/29/2019 Shortening an in-Line Bracelet Using Pulse-Arc Welding Techniques

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May 2003

Professional Bench/Welding Technologies

Shortening an In-Line Bracelet Using Pulse-ArcWelding Techniques

Knowing how to tack-, fusion- and pulse-arc-weld at the bench saves time,

increases quality and boosts profits for your shop and service department

This in-line bracelet needs to be shortened by two links. The bracelet is held

together by a single link-wire wrapped around an open portion of the adjacent

link and permanently joined, giving the bracelet maximum flexibility. Following

is a procedure for shortening, reassembling and permanent welding of the

link.

1. This in-line bracelet

has alternating 14k

yellow and white gold

domed links. A 5mm

lab-created moissanite is

flush set in each of the

white gold links.

2. Saw to remove two links.

The best location for sawing is

adjacent to the domed link (A).

Open the links and remove the

two unwanted links to shorten.

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3. Reassemble the links and

tighten (B) for pulse-arc

welding. There’s a very small

gap at the top of the joint, and

it’s flush and in full contact at

the bottom.

4. Position the welding pencil

over the open link and depress

the foot pedal. A single pulse of

energy welds the link at the

bottom of the joint where it was

in full contact.

5. To complete the weld joint,

use 28-gauge 14k white gold

wire and build up the joint (C).

The ABI Tack III Pulse-Arc

welder is set on the high energy

setting at 45 volts for steps 4

and 5.

6. Four additional pulses of

energy were required with the

28-gauge wire to sufficiently

build the joint (D). (See “Know

Your Equipment” at right.”)


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7. The surface discoloration

from the pulse-arc welding

process is easily removed by

wire brushing. File or sand the

excess metal at the joint andpolish.

8. The shortening process took

12 minutes from start to finish.

Important: All tack- and pulse-arc equipment settings will differ and are based

on the volume and alloy of the material you’re working with. Using likematerials will give you a parameter for the settings required for your

application. Keep a record of settings and tasks for future reference.

If you have questions about this process, contact Mark B. Mann at

[email protected]. This installment is sponsored by ABI, Cranston, RI.

For information related to ABI, call Janet Kirk at (888) 494-2663.

Know Your Equipment

The weld pencil contains an electrode (4). The electrode is inserted

through the base metal housing that’s inserted in the threaded

weld-pencil tip (2). A ceramic tube (3) is also inserted into the tip and

secured by tightening the allen screw with the ABI-provided key-wrench

(1).


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Over time, the electrode’s tip becomes misshapen from use. It’s best to

keep it rounded at the end by sanding. While shaping the electrode,

clean and shape the ceramic tip. For this procedure, the tip of the

electrode is recessed 1mm inside the ceramic tube.

For this pulse-arc welding procedure, the weld pencil with a #2

electrode and ceramic tip is used (1), attached to the positive lead. The

contact pad is attached to the negative lead. For easiest viewing of the

work-in-progress, the contact pad rests on a lowered flat bench pin.

– by Mark B. Mann

Photos by Mark B. Mann

©2003 Visual Communications

Copyright © 2003 by Bond Communications


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shortening an in-line bracelet using pulse-arc welding techniques

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