Edge Weld Sheet Metal

[imagineers]

so I have made a box about 7inches tall. The other dimensions are not important for my question . The sheet metal is 1.2mm thick. I want a nice clean outer edge. The metal is SECC, electrogalvanized chassis steel, which would be painted after to be black. Can I just fillet weld the edges and then grind it smooth???

 

[imagineers]

another pic

 

[MintJulep]

thread725-375601

 

[imagineers]

Yes I saw that thread, I started it. One of the comments was to stay around 1.2mm which I have on this part, and which is a different part from the one listed on that thread. What I wanted to know is if a fillet weld would be ok on this without a flange or secondary piece for welding?

 

[berkshire]

Your best bet is to forget about fillet welding. Put a copper backing bar inside the corner, then Tig weld from the outside using filler rod to fill that gap. Galvaneal Tig welds quite nicely. Sand smooth after welding, or leave alone depending on the skill of the welder.

You can get a better joint if you use the " close joint" feature of your sheet metal Cad program. Solidworks and Geomagic have this feature, I do not know about other Cad programs.

Ideally the inside edges of the joint should just touch when the part is folded up.

B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

 

[racookpe1978]

Don't worry about the CAD.

It is imaginary. Not fabricated.

Allow a full length tab about 1/2 inch (12 - 15 mm) long alone the the entire edge.
Fold up that tab to a 90 deg bend.
Fold up the bottom plate of the box to form the side (wall) of the box.
Weld the tab over the outside of the box (if the interior is to be smooth), or the inside (if the exterior corner is to be smooth), and weld it with a compression welder (spot welder) 3 - 6 times.

 

[MintJulep]

Depending on your expectations of the finished product you might need to consider the likelihood of welding distortion.

http://www.aws.org/wj/feb03/feature1.html