Spotlight on: Tig Welding
Spotlight on: Tig Welding
From start to finish, here's the life of a Brompton TIG-welding frame. In a factory in Sheffield, 300 km north of the Brompton London factory, live a set of tubes waiting to become titanium frames. A dedicated space was created because titanium requires different skills, machinery, and process than steel. The city of Sheffield has a rich history and legacy of expertise in metal working.
What is TIG welding?
In the 1940s, the aerospace industry developed something known as TIG welding (Tungsten Inert Gas), also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). The high-quality, clean welds it produces and exceptional precision in hard-to-reach places are what made Brompton makers choose this technique. Even the most experienced welders need time and intense focus because TIG welding requires a high level of skill and coordination between eye, hand, and foot.
How does it work?
Welders use a tungsten electrode which looks like a pen, to create an electric arc that produces intense heat. The electrode is guided along the join between the titanium pieces.
The welders introduce a commercially pure titanium wire rod to the mix as the pieces start to melt. A molten pool of titanium is created. A strong bond is created once it cools. Expert welders perfectly balance the pool of molten filler with the heat of the torch and the motion of their hand.
What about inert gas?
When titanium is heated at high temperatures, it chemically reacts with oxygen and nitrogen in the air, compromising the strength of the weld. As a solution to this problem, an inert gas environment is created around the weld pool. Argon, an inert gas, does not react under high heat. This creates a strong, clean weld as intended.
Spotless tubes
Oxygen and nitrogen are not the only things that will compromise a weld. Even a tiny bit of dust can contaminate causing a problem. To prevent that, every titanium tube is meticulously cleaned with acetone to make sure it is free of dust and fingerprints.
Geometry
Precision is key to the final geometry of the bike. Therefore, every joint of the frame is welded at a precise angle, so that there is no room for error. The tooling engineering and manufacturing teams work together to develop a bespoke jig for each section of the frame. The jigs hold the bike parts at the perfect angle allowing the welders to do their job. This helps them achieve the designed angles every time.
The beauty of the weld
The beauty of the weld TIG-welded titanium joints have a silvery bead and at times almost appear to have a mirror finish. Every TIG welder has a signature style making each build unique. Appreciating their beauty outside of engineering, with artists often choosing them for sculpture welding.
Free Delivery
We offer free delivery on all products ordered from our website.We'll deliver your order free of cost. Cycle away in less than 10 minutes of opening the box.
Place your order before 1 PM to get it the same day. All orders placed after 1 PM will be eligible for next-day delivery. Once your order leaves our warehouse, you will be notified via SMS and email.
Return of unwanted items
Changed your mind about an item? You can return unwanted items within 14 days of purchase, via courier, and at your own expense. If items are damaged or lost in transit, we will be unable to provide a refund for them.Items can be returned only if they are unopened, unused, and still in their original packaging.Unused bikes can be returned within 14 days of purchase. The bike should still be in its unopened box, never been ridden, and show no signs of wear.
Exchange of item
If the purchased item displays faults, the item can be exchanged with a new one. Exchange policy is valid only within 14 days of the purchase.
Due to inconsistencies of various monitors, lighting sources, digital photography and dye lot variations, we cannot guarantee that the colour you see on your screen accurately portrays the true colour of the product. Screen images are intended as a guide only and should not be regarded as absolutely correct.
Moreover, colours of the main frame and extremities may not be the same colours shown on the topmost image and colour options. This image is just a representation of how the bike looks at this angle and colours maybe not be the similar ones shown in the colour options.
