Why Use a Welding Table That Swivels and Tilts

Posted on July 31, 2017 by ismuser

Whether you are a professional welder or someone who does welding projects as a hobby, why would you use a welding table that swivels and tilts rather than a traditional table that has a solid, horizontal surface?

If you can’t think of a suitable answer, think of the difference between a hard wooden chair and an ergonomic office chair that can be adjusted up, down, backward, and forwards.

The wooden chair might work if you sit nice and straight and don’t mind your bottom getting sore. The ergonomic office chair though is likely to help you sit correctly and also feel comfortable. The problem is that if the chair causes you to bend, stoop, or take up positions that impact on your spine you’re likely to be in trouble. At best this bad posture will cause discomfort, at worst it could cause skeletal injury. This might sound like over-kill, but it isn’t. The vast majority of people do not realize the impact of poor posture.

If a welding table can swivel and tilt, it stands to reason that it will make it a lot easier for the person welding to get to joints whether they are above or under the work piece. Instead of the welder having to bend awkwardly to get to inaccessible points, all he does is move the table to suit his needs. The added advantage is that it also prevents unnecessary downtime:

Because the welder can work more efficiently and therefore is less likely to have to re-measure, make corrections, and mechanically rework the materials to get the job right.
Bad posture can cause serious health issues that inevitably lead to absenteeism. This can impact on both the timeframe of a job as well as costs as other workers may need to be called in to complete the job for the absent employee.

Welding Tables

Lifting and Tilting Table

Traditional welding tables are flat and made of mild steel. Nowadays welding tables are still made from mild steel, but more specialized designs are made from cast iron, stainless steel, and from various alloys. You don’t have to compromise; you can choose exactly the surface that is best for the work you are welding.

Similarly, welding tables are traditionally just tables with four legs and an upper surface that is both horizontal and level. Jobs are done in parts, and a wide variety of clamps are used to keep the metal in place while the welding operation is in progress.

In recent years, welding tables have taken a totally new design turn with modular tables enabling work to be done much more quickly and efficiently. The most exciting element of these tables is that they can be adjusted to any position for precision welding that requires 100 percent accuracy of all measurements, angles, and alignment of parts. Additionally, all you need are a few standard components made for use with the tale and you can create a custom solution for any welding job you could imagine. These include lift tables, vertical turntables, and horizontal rotary tables.

Modular 3D Welding Tables

Modular 3D welding tables from Forster America are designed to enable welders to achieve custom solutions for any welding jobs. Instead of solid upper surfaces, their tables feature rails that can be adjusted to accommodate jigs and other fixtures. Made from gray, non-ferric cast iron or an aluminum copper alloy, the rails may be spaced up to 100 mm apart. Furthermore, each rail is able to withstand a maximum load of 1.5 tons if cast iron and 1 ton if made from the alloy. The most common width of Forster’s modular tables is 47 inches and the available length ranges from 39 inches to 118 inches. The largest table measures 118 inches x 59 inches.

Welding Tables That Swivel

The company’s swiveling welding tables are operated by electric motors and have a swivel range of 360 degrees. Like the 3D tables described above, they have slatted surfaces to accommodate jigs and other specialized welding tools. They also incorporate a valuable lifting function.

The prime feature of the Forster swivel welding tables enables the adjustment of axis using the center-of-gravity. A patented feature, because of gravitational force it enables the torque to be set to zero even when the welding is working with heavy parts that weigh up to one ton. The table is then secured in position simply and easily using a locking brake.

Welding Tables That Lift and Tilt

Designed to make the welding operation more efficient and productive, Forster’s lifting and tilting welding tables may be adjusted hydraulically to any height and degree. There are several different types that have been designed for different needs depending on whether it needs to lift and turn, lift and rotate, lift and tilt, or just lift.

Convinced that you should be using a welding table that swivels and tilts? Contact the friendly professionals at Forster America for more information.

How to Streamline Your Operation Using 3D Modular Welding Tables

Posted on May 31, 2017 by ismuser

Welding equipment has come a long way in the past few decades. Instead of being simply functional and utilitarian, today you can buy welding tables, jigs, and accessories that are designed ergonomically to improve working conditions, streamline the production process, and minimize downtime.

Forster America’s 3D modular welding tables are particularly effective because they can be adjusted for any welding project, making them ideal for all those jobs that require absolute precision. They also support various table parts and a number of components that enable welders to achieve custom solutions for jobs. This makes precise measuring, aligning, and correcting, or mechanically reworking complicated work pieces considerably easier.

How 3D Modular Welding Tables Work

Forster’s 3D modular welding tables are constructed with slats comprising a T-slot system that is ideal for welding containers and casings and other complex designs. All you do is slide them sideways to accommodate the various accessories. These include:

30 mm and 50 mm diameter clamping arms
30 mm and 50 mm steel pipes including several that are made specifically for 3D clamping
A range of right-angled brackets of various sizes to meet a plethora of needs
Horizontal, flat, quick-release, and C clamps that fulfill every possible clamping requirement
A variety of stops including flat and universal stops
A number of other elements including V-block supports, support feet that can accommodate two cast rails to extend the modular table, table extension plates, cover plates, and adjustable angle pieces that lock

They can also be used with horizontal rotary tables, vertical turntables, and lift tables that add to the versatility of the 3D modular design.

The lifting/tilting tables are particularly useful because they can be used with specialist jigs, and can be adjusted to any degree or height. The lift and turn function is operated hydraulically so there is absolutely no effort required on the part of the welder. Streamlining an operation has never been easier.

Specifications of 3D Modular Welding Tables

Forster America’s 3D tables are available in aluminum copper (Al/Cu) alloy for welding stainless steel and in gray cast iron. Design and sizes are the same for both:

A width of 59 inches for a table that is 118 inches long
A width of 47 inches for a range of lengths: 39, 71, 79, 95, and 118 inches.

The Al/Cu welding tables feature slatted tops that are made from a combination of carbon steel and an aluminum alloy. The benefit of using this type of table when working on stainless steel is that the clamping system prevents any contact with ferritic materials that would otherwise likely cause corrosion in the form of pitting or scratching. This makes them safe and reliable. Additionally, the material has a very high tensile strength combined with a low surface hardness. Because thermal conductivity is high, there is minimal danger of spatter attaching to the table.

The top of special gray cast iron welding tables is also highly resistant to spatter. The material has a very low expansion point when it is exposed to heat, which adds to reliability.

If you are interested in using 3D modular tables in your welding workshop, call Forster America today. We’ll help you choose the best solution for your needs.

Ergofix Welding Table Hydraulics Ensure Welders Maintain Good Posture

Posted on March 15, 2017 by ismuser

Whatever sort of work you do, it’s important to maintain good posture. This means you need to be sure that you aren’t straining your back or any of your muscles while you work. The implications of bad posture are enormous as stress and strain on the spine can result in a myriad of complications. These range from headaches, neck pain, and sore knee, hip, and shoulder joints, to cramps, indigestion, and of course, backache.

Welders generally stand when they work, and they often find they have to bend and virtually contort themselves to reach inaccessible areas that need to be clamped and welded.

Ergonomic Equipment Helps Posture

Ergonomic equipment is frequently used in home and office environments, to help people sit correctly and avoid muscular or skeletal injuries. And now welders have access to ergonomic equipment too.

Forster America specializes in lifting and tilting welding tables that have hydraulic lift and turning functions that make it easy to adjust the height of their tables.

The Ergofix welding manipulator is a particularly useful piece of equipment, enabling workers to maintain an ergonomic posture throughout the welding process.

Available in several sizes, from 31.5 inches to 47.2 inches in length, the Ergofix manipulator is infinitely adjustable. Using cutting edge hydraulics, the height of the table can be adjusted from 27.2 inches to 39 inches. This means there is no need to bend and strain. Additionally, the table can be rotated by 360 degrees, and locked with a brake so that it stays in position. It can also be tilted to an angle of 45 degrees (or less). So even the most complicated work piece, with multiple sides, is easy to access from any angle.

Both the lift and turn functions are operated using hydraulics. This means that there is no need for physical strength, and the user doesn’t have to strain in any way.

The Ergofix hydraulic system is easy to control and it is incredibly accurate. It is easy to start, speed up and slow down, and stop manually. It provides constant force and torque and is safe and economical, and easy to maintain.

Apart from its superior hydraulics, Forster’s Ergofix manipulator has been designed for use with a highly superior vacuum clamping system, Vakufix.

Ergofix Works With Vakufix

Vacufix Clamping System

Made for both manual and robotic welding of sheet metal plates, Vakufix enables welders to clamp parts of the work piece directly in the line of heat. Better still, because the Ergofix can be tilted and rotated, the clamps can be used at a three-dimensional level.

One of the most important advantages of this system is that welding seams aren’t covered with clamps or clamping arms. This makes the welding procedure easier, and of course, ensures that workers are able to maintain good posture throughout the process.

The way it works is that the parts are secured onto a vacuum plate that has a very small surface. So if work has to be corrected, or pieces repositioned, the process is simplified and is a lot quicker than it would be if using regular clamps.

Ultimately, because the Ergofix hydraulic system helps welders maintain good posture, their health is protected and downtime is minimized. It’s a win-win situation for employers and employees.

Contact Forster America to find out more about the Ergofix manipulator and other lifting and turning tables that will increase efficiency and productivity in your welding workshop or factory.

The Best Clamps for Welding Workshops

Posted on February 21, 2017 by ismuser

All welding operations require effective clamping systems that enable welders to keep their work pieces in place. High quality, precision welding projects are totally dependent on clamps and clamping systems. Without them, the metal cannot be held in place properly, and the likelihood of error will be increased. This will impact negatively on efficiency, productivity and the company’s bottom line.

In a nutshell, not all clamps are made equal. So which are the best?

The Innovative 3D Clamping System From Forster America

Forster America has a range of modular welding tables, including their signature modular 3D tables that are designed with an innovative T-slot top. These, in turn, accommodate the company’s unique 3D clamping system.

Instead of having to find a suitable place to clamp the metal to be welded, the slats on the 3D welding table accommodate Forster America clamps in the simplest way possible. Whether you need a flat clamp, a C-clamp, a flange clamp, or a basic horizontal clamp, these are made to slide between the slats in the table. Better still, because the tables can be accessed from all sides, and easily adjusted to different positions, once you’ve clamped the work piece, you can just keep on working.

The Best Six Clamps for Welding Workshops

Clamps come in a variety of shapes and forms to suit a wide range of needs. But not all clamps are suitable for welding. In fact many are better suited to woodwork.

Forster America’s 3D clamping system for welding is limited but incredibly versatile. Whether you need to clamp large pieces of sheet metal or small components, there is a clamp that will do the job. They are all most effective when used in conjunction with the Forster America 3D welding table and include:

A 50 mm-diameter (2”) horizontal clamp that fits on a clamping pole and is perfect for application of horizontal clamping forces. It can be used at different heights and is easy to adjust continuously.
A 30 mm-diameter (1.2”) horizontal clamp that is suitable for applying force on steel and bronze pads.
A 50 mm-diameter (2”) x 600 mm (23.6”) flange clamp with a clutch and contact surface made from stainless steel that can be used to position flanges of any size. Suitable bolt sizes range from 97 mm to 355 mm (3.8” to 12”) with a bore diameter of 13mm (0.5”).
A flat clamp that is incredibly effective for holding flat components tightly in position. It has a throat depth of 200 mm (7.8”) and an adjustable clamping range of 110 mm (4.3”).
A C-clamp that is perfect for clamping flat components to right-angled brackets. It has a throat depth of 70 mm (2.7”) and an adjustable clamping range of 60 mm (2.3”).
An invaluable quick-release clamp that can be positioned freely along any x- or y-axis with the flat stop. It is ideal for clamping small components and sheet steel.

Forster America’s 3D tables and clamps are made to incredibly precise standards. So if you want the best clamps for your welding workshop, you know who to go to.

Vacuum Clamping System that Reduces Distortion

Posted on January 31, 2017 by ismuser

Whether you do the work manually or use a robot to do the welding for you, working with sheet metal parts can be an extremely challenging task. But it doesn’t have to be. Now a new high temperature, Vakufix vacuum-clamping system is available, that will simplify the process, even when parts need to be clamped at a three-dimensional level, in the critical heat affected zone (HAZ). The new system also reduces thermal distortion, which is a huge plus, particularly when welders work with stainless steel plate.

Introducing the Vakufix Vacuum Clamping System

Vacufix on Welding Table

Now available from Forster America, Vakufix is a sophisticated clamping system intended for both manual and automated robotic welding of sheet metal plates. It is a patented product, and totally unique in terms of the way it works. Unlike any other existing welding clamping option, the Vakufix vacuum clamping system is incredibly versatile and can be used for every possible sheet manufacturing operation, using any type of metal including steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

Suitable for use in an extremely high temperature range, Vakufix provides maximum accessibility to all welding seams. This is because none of the seams are covered with clamping arms the way they are with most conventional clamping systems. Additionally, all sheet metal parts are secured to the vacuum plate easily and fast. Because the process utilizes a ball valve, it results in the use of a very small vacuum surface. This, in turn, means that any necessary correction required in positioning the sheet metal parts is considerably quicker and easier than it would normally be using conventional clamps. It also minimizes the damage that it is often caused by normal clamps that would need to be rectified.

Once the parts have been correctly positioned, and traction-related forces become active, the vacuum area immediately increases. This results in each of the vacuum plates generating adhesive mechanical forces as strong as 40 kg to 45 kg. This is a particularly reliable method of reducing thermal distortion, and is a boon to those involved in stainless steel processing and manufacturing items from stainless steel.

Vacuum plates are used with compressed air for component pick-up that involves integrated voltage on the inside of the work piece. Each of the plates incorporates an “elastic” stainless steel shim that acts as a sealing surface; this can be replaced very easily if it wears out.

Best of all, Vakufix can be used with Forster America’s state-of-the-art T-slot tables, which speeds up the operation as a whole, ultimately increasing the bottom line.

Vakufix Vacuum Clamping System

Forster America has two different options available for the Vakufix vacuum clamping system. The clamping system is:

Supplied with a clamping table or plate, as well as a pump, and air chamber.
Customized to specific work pieces, together with all the necessary accessories. If there is a change to the work piece, the clamping system can be adapted either by the customer or by Forster America, depending on complexity.

If you would like to know more about Forster America’s Vakufix vacuum clamping system or would like to order a system for your welding workshop, please contact us.

How Forster Welding Tables Save Time and Money in Industries That Need More Welders

Posted on May 19, 2016 by ismuser

The welding industry is suffering from a critical shortage of skilled welders at a time when welding job opportunities are increasing annually. For this reason it is vital for employers with welding workshops to ensure their equipment is cutting edge, with the potential to put them ahead of their competitors. And one of the most innovative ways to do this is to use high tech modular welding tables that enable one skilled welder to do jobs that would normally require at least two pairs of hands.

Skilled Welder Shortage in the US Manufacturing Economy

Welding Fume Hazards | Forster America The American Welding Society (AWS) has predicted that by 2024 the welding industry will have a shortage of around 400,000 welding operators. This is not surprising since data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that from 1988 to 2012, the number of welders in the US reduced from 570,000 to 360,000. Coupled with this, the manufacturing industry in general, and oil and gas industry in particular, has grown exponentially since mid-2009, adding more jobs for specialist welders than anyone would have imagined was possible.

Another BLS stat indicates that during the decade from 2010 to 2020 (which of course we are more than halfway through) will show a 15 percent growth in welding-related positions, which is higher than those for most other occupations. This, they say, indicates that by 2020, there will be around 50,000 more welding positions available than there were six years ago.

Coupled with the fact that properly trained career welders are in greater demand in manufacturing than ever before, welders can pick and choose where they work. Proper AWS certified training enables a career welder to cherry-pick jobs in a wide range of manufacturing industries, particularly when they have training and have experience in the latest technologies, together with the opportunity to use cutting edge equipment.

How a Forster America Welding Table Can Save Time and Money

It stands to reason that any company hiring welders will want to ensure the quality of workmanship is tops. However, manufacturing and other businesses hiring welders need to ensure that not only are the welders properly trained to use the latest welding techniques, but the welding equipment is also innovative and cutting edge. By using equipment that can cut down on downtime and enable one welder to do the same job two or more welders would normally be expected to do, in the same (or shorter) period of time, will save any business both time and money.

There are not a lot of elements that comprise the ability to complete the welding process, other than the appropriate welding machine and the bits and pieces required for the specific process chosen.

So what gives our welding table the cutting edge?

In a nutshell, if a welding table is modular, easy-to-clean, easy-to-maintain without having to splurge on replacement parts, and it’s efficient, then it’s going to save you time and money. That’s what Forster America has to offer with all of our specialty and modular welding tables.

An easy-to-clean welding table will have worktable-tops and rails that have been innovatively designed and then soaked in an oil formula that enables you to get rid of spatter instantly. What this means is that spatter simply pops off the surface while the welders are working. Then it can be cleaned very easily without any grinding or elbow grease. That feature saves a lot of time when it comes to cleanup, and time translates to financial savings.

Easy cleaning takes time and money savings to another level too. Because there is no need to grind off spatter, welding workshops will save the integrity of tabletops and they will last a lot longer. Furthermore, if one rail of a well-designed cutting edge modular welding table is damaged, all the welders need to do is replace the rail and not the whole tabletop.

Ultimately, the best modular tables available today don’t only make it easier for welders to work, they improve uptime too, because one welder can do the job two (or more) welders would normally do in the same time. When a well-designed modular table is available, a well-trained qualified welder seldom needs assistance manipulating a work piece in the middle of a project.

How Forster America’s Cutting Edge Welding Tables Work

3D Welding Table

Once upon a time a welding table was simply a table with a flat surface made of metal – commonly mild steel, but ultimately depending on the metal being welded. To weld different components that had to be positioned at different angles, welders had to use jigs and clamps and other quite basic, but often custom-made aids to get the job right.

And then technology saved the day, and 3D modular tables were designed that enabled welders to tackle any job using a proprietary T-slot system. These contemporary welding tables incorporate modular parts with slots that can be opened and adjusted to accommodate different metal parts within the design of the item being welded.

The best modular tables can be tilted, moved and customized with built-in jigs in a fraction of the time any regular, quite old-fashioned welder would need to set up a mid-job position for welding. Better still, one skilled worker can do it alone, which is good news in an industry that has fewer workers than it did a decade ago. The “secret” about so-called cutting edge welding tables is that they can hold a full range of 3D welding components and accessories required to complete an amazing range of welding tasks.

Whether you are a welder or a business that employs welders, cutting edge equipment is available to take your business to the next level. You might need to hire more staff, but you should also look at what upgraded equipment can do for you, particularly a welding table that’s going to minimize your downtime.

Using Forster’s 3D Welding Table to Simplify Welding Jobs

Posted on February 17, 2016 by ismuser

Welding tables are a must have component for any serious welder’s workspace. Standard tables are usually made of steel since other types of material could not stand up to the intense heat needed for welding. This makes them durable but not very versatile. A typical welding table will be setup for a specific project and until that project is finished, the table cannot be used for anything else. 3D welding tables provide a versatile workspace for more complex projects and larger product output requirements.

Standard welding tables don’t give you any option to make changes or position adjustments midway through a job.

For this reason, a small shop or individual welder can get by using a single table but larger manufacturers need a lot more to meet demand. Since a standard table is not able to adapt to jobs of different sizes, a manufacturer is forced to dedicate one table to one project or one step in an assembly line. This is why more and more large manufacturers are switching over to a Forster 3-D Welding Table.

3D Welding Tables Simplify Larger Welding Projects and Increase Output

A Forster 3-D Welding Table is extremely versatile and can accommodate projects of all shapes and sizes because of its “T-Slot” system. The T-Slot system utilizes slats that will open and adjust to accommodate different projects and useful accessories. You do not have to wait until before or after a project to set up these tables as they can be adjusted on the fly.

Our 3D Welding Tables are available with:

Al/Cu alloy construction which allows for stainless steel processing
Grey cast construction for steel processing
The flexible T-Slot system which allows for an amazing array of configurations

If your company handles welding projects on a daily basis then you need to contact Forster America today. There is no point to filling your welding bays with limited tables that can only handle one type of project when you can fill your workspace with Forster 3-D Welding Tables. They can do anything a standard table can do and so much more.

Forster America is bringing 3D Welding Tables to the States

Posted on December 20, 2013 by ismuser

Forster America will now be supplying the United States with Forster’s (Germany) 3D welding tables, and accessories. These welding tables are truly innovative and truly unique. Forster (Germany) has over 25 years of experience in welding tables and the welding industry. They are more than aware of what welders and businesses need, and they deliver.

Forster America provides all of the Forster Welding System’s products, such as:

Welding Tables
3D Welding Tables
Welding Tables for Jigs
Custom Accessories
Table Tops for all Types of Metal

The Forster design is truly unique because of the t-slot system. The table top is composed of beams that can be rearranged, moved and adjusted at any time during the welding process to accommodate the needs of the welder. This reduces strain on the work piece, it’s more ergonomic for the welder and because it can be changed throughout the welding process there’s a huge decrease in downtime.

To find out more about Forster America’s 3D welding tables don’t hesitate to give us a call today!