Reliable spot extraction for highly harmful welding fumes

TIG welding is considered an almost smoke-free welding process. Unlike MIG or MAG welding, considerably less welding smoke is visible - but appearances are deceptive: the resulting welding smoke is usually invisible, but all the more dangerous when inhaled. With the air-cooled and liquid-cooled xFUME® TIG extraction torches, ABICOR BINZEL has developed extraction torches especially for TIG welding that extract welding fumes at the source and thus prevent inhalation of toxic welding fumes.

The TIG welding process produces ozone on the one hand and nitrogen oxide on the other. In TRGS 905 - Technical Regulations on Hazardous Substances, a list of carcinogens, germ cell mutagens or substances toxic to reproduction - ozone is classified as a carcinogen. Ozone is formed by a reaction between nitric oxide and oxygen under the influence of UV radiation generated by the electric arc during welding. When the current is higher, the intensity of UV radiation also increases. Particularly high ozone values are produced when welding aluminum-silicon alloys and pure aluminum. The shiny metal surfaces of the workpiece itself also reflect UV radiation. This means that ozone can be formed even at greater distances from the process. The low fume generation in TIG welding also allows the UV rays to spread better. 

The second type of extremely harmful gases generated during TIG welding are nickel oxide and chromium(VI) compounds, especially when welding stainless steel. They can or should only be captured with a filter class W3 and disposed of in accordance with local environmental regulations.

Easy to handle and efficient

Specifications for companies that employ welders are stringent. The requirements for a healthy working environment require further development of technology. With the xFUME® TIG extraction torches, ABICOR BINZEL has developed both air-cooled and liquid-cooled extraction torches. 

The two xFUME® TIG fume extraction torches are lightweight, easy-to-handle fume extraction units that capture and filter harmful welding fumes at the source (filter class W3) using a mobile fume extractor. The FES-200 W3 and FEC W3 welding fume extraction units are such extraction units and, together with an xFUME® TIG extraction torch, form perfectly matched solutions for welding fume extraction systems. 

Spot extraction in combination with an extraction unit is carried out with high-vacuum systems. The welding smoke released during the welding process is collected using a special TIG extraction nozzle at the front of the TIG extraction torch and thus directly at the place where the smoke is generated. 

The smoke is discharged to the mobile extraction unit, where it is collected in the W3 filter and the harmful particles are filtered out. The cleaned air is then released back into the environment.

Good visibility remains guaranteed

The air-cooled xFUME® TIG 150 to 105 A AC (150 A DC) at 35% duty cycle and the liquid-cooled xFUME® TIG 260W to 185 A AC (260 A DC) at 100% duty cycle are ideally suited for welding stainless steel, aluminum alloys and high-alloy materials. Wherever predominantly materials are welded that release harmful welding fumes during welding, xFUME® TIG extraction torches are safe and reliable tools for welders. 

In addition to the newly developed, patented, combined, ceramic protective gas and extraction nozzle, the xFUME® TIG extraction torches use ABICOR BINZEL's proven high-performance wear part concept with electrode holder. This contains collet and collet holder combined in one part, provides a large surface area for current transfer and heat dissipation, and ensures perfect positioning of the tungsten electrode. Since this concept eliminates the collet as the TIG wear part, it also has a positive effect on inventory management and operating costs. The TIG welding fume extraction torches xFUME® TIG have a combined ceramic protection gas and extraction nozzle, which has a slim front end and therefore guarantees a very good view of the welding process. TIG welding fume extraction becomes easy with xFUME® TIG.    

Advantages of xFUME® TIG at a glance

• Reliable extraction of harmful welding fumes
• Excellence in ergonomics and operation
• Patented, combined, ceramic protective gas and extraction nozzle for slim front-end
• Very good gas protection
• Suitable for all mobile fume extraction units, especially those with filter class W3