As most of you are already aware, the trend in the automotive industry is a switch from steel to alumium - this posses many problems for resisitance welding, becuase of the high conductivity of alumium. I know some tips include cleaning the electrodes and using class 1 copper, but does anyone have any other suggestions or tips? Thanks, Allison

-- allison blackstein (allisonb@netcom.ca), August 24, 1999

Answers

Here is a technical paper that talks about spot welding AL. http://www.cntrline.com/breif1.htm

A quick scan of it says to use 1. quick weld times 2. high current 3. possibly a higher weld force. Higher weld forces, however, can lead to indention into the AL, since it is softer than steel.

-- Sam Snow (snowsam@eng.auburn.edu), November 12, 1999.