WPS/PQR for Bortech Welder - Weld Build Up

[kab11]

Our company is looking to qualify our Bortech welder. I am somewhat new to WPS/PQR procedures and have been trying to learn on the fly. After researching and looking through ASME Section IX, I believe that we can qualify this using a groove weld per QW-202.3. We will mainly be using the Bortech to repair valve stuffing boxes so it will essentially be a weld build up of carbon steel. The main issues I am running into would be the base metal thickness (which must be per QW-451), the position to qualify the weld in, and if this would be better qualified on pipe or plate. Would it be best to simply perform a groove weld on 1-1/2" thick SA-516 plate so that we are qualified up to 8" on the base metal to cover varying thicknesses of stuffing boxes? Does a groove weld on plate qualify the Bortech which would be rotating around the inside of the stuffing box applying weld metal or is this better qualified on pipe? Does the position of the weld even matter as this would be a nonessential variable for GMAW? Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

 

[weldstan]

You must qualify a groove weld as you have surmised. You could qualify a partial penetration groove weld of 3/4" deposited weld metal on 1.5" thick plate or pipe. Because of your use for the Bortech, I would recommend qualification on pipe with the 3/4" deep groove placed on the pipe ID.

 

[kab11]

Does it matter if the groove is placed on the ID or OD? Because it is a non-essential variable whether it is manual or automatic, our plan was to have the weld be performed manually.

 

[weldstan]

That is up to you. I was only looking at assuring that the Boretech automatic equipment could do the work.

 

[weldstan]

In my former companies, we always qualified our automatic systems to assure that we developed welding parameters that would guarantee successful welds in the field or shop.