The Automatic Shear and Welder is an essential auxiliary machine in an ERW tube mill. It automatically cuts, aligns, and welds the tail of one steel coil to the head of the next, allowing continuous strip feeding into the production line.

Installed between the uncoiler and the strip accumulator, the machine minimizes production downtime during coil changes, improves production efficiency, and ensures stable welding quality. It is widely used in carbon steel tube mills and other continuous strip processing lines.

What Is an Automatic Shear and Welder?

An Automatic Shear and Welder is designed to join two steel coils automatically before they enter the strip accumulator.

Its main functions include:

• ✂️ Cutting the strip ends accurately
• 📍 Clamping and positioning both strip ends
• 🔄 Aligning the strip for precise welding
• ⚡ Automatically welding the strip ends using TIG welding
• ▶️ Supplying continuous strip to the production line

This equipment greatly reduces manual work and helps maintain uninterrupted production.

Typical Position in an ERW Tube Mill

Coil Loading → Uncoiler → Automatic Shear and Welder → Strip Accumulator → Forming Mill → HF Welder → Sizing Mill → Flying Saw → Run-out Table

The strip accumulator stores enough strip while the Automatic Shear and Welder completes the coil joining process, allowing the tube mill to continue running without interruption.

How Does an Automatic Shear and Welder Work?

The machine completes the strip joining process automatically through the following steps:

1. Strip Positioning

The strip ends are fed into the machine and securely held by the pneumatic clamping system, ensuring stable positioning before cutting and welding.

2. Hydraulic Shearing

The hydraulic shearing unit trims both strip ends to produce clean and straight edges, preparing them for high-quality welding.

3. Automatic Alignment

After cutting, the machine accurately aligns the strip ends to maintain proper joint positioning and minimize welding deviation.

4. TIG Welding

The TIG welding unit performs butt welding on the aligned strip ends. During welding, the automatic torch travel mechanism moves the welding torch at a controlled speed, producing a stable weld seam with consistent quality.

5. Strip Feeding

After welding is completed, the joined strip continues feeding into the strip accumulator, supporting continuous tube production.

Main Components

The Automatic Shear and Welder mainly consists of the following components:

✂️ Hydraulic Shearing Unit

Provides accurate and clean cutting of both strip ends before welding, ensuring proper joint preparation.

🔧 Pneumatic Clamping System

Securely clamps and positions the strip during shearing and welding to maintain alignment accuracy.

⚡ TIG Welding Unit

Performs automatic TIG butt welding with stable arc performance, producing reliable and consistent weld quality.

🤖 Automatic Torch Travel Mechanism

Moves the TIG welding torch smoothly along the welding joint at a controlled speed, improving weld consistency and reducing manual operation.

🖥️ Control System

A PLC-based control system with an HMI touch screen manages the entire operating process, including shearing, clamping, alignment, welding, and parameter settings.

Technical Specifications

Specifications can be customized according to different tube mill requirements.

Key Features

✅ Automatic strip shearing and welding

✅ High-quality TIG welding

✅ Precise strip positioning and alignment

✅ Hydraulic shearing for clean cutting

✅ Pneumatic clamping for stable operation

✅ Automatic torch travel for consistent welds

✅ PLC automatic control with touch screen

✅ Reduced downtime during coil changes

✅ Easy operation and maintenance

How to Choose the Right Automatic Shear and Welder

Selecting the correct model depends on several production parameters:

• Strip width
• Strip thickness
• Steel material
• Tube mill production speed
• Required welding capacity
• Automation level
• Local electrical standards

AIS Machinery provides customized solutions according to each customer's production requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Where is the Automatic Shear and Welder installed?

It is installed between the uncoiler and the strip accumulator in an ERW tube mill.

2. What welding process does the machine use?

This machine uses automatic TIG butt welding, which provides stable weld quality and good joint consistency.

3. Why is hydraulic shearing used?

Hydraulic shearing produces clean and accurate strip edges, creating suitable conditions for high-quality welding.

4. What is the function of the automatic torch travel mechanism?

It automatically moves the TIG welding torch along the joint at a constant speed, ensuring uniform weld penetration and consistent welding quality.

5. Can the machine be customized?

Yes. The machine can be customized according to strip width, thickness, production speed, and customer-specific requirements.