H Beam Welding – The Ultimate FAQ Guide
Many of you might still be wondering how I and H beams are made. Are they manufactured from just welding the pieces together? Or do they have some type of beam welding machine?
The latter is the correct answer and, in fact, it’s usually done in unison. H beam welding machines are the technology responsible for the manufacturing of these beams.
Today, we’ll learn more about H beam welding machines. Furthermore, we’ll also assist you in finding the best, the most trusted, and the most reliable H beam manufacturers in the industry.
Understanding What an H Beam Is
It’s a type of beam that is shaped similar to that of the letter “H,” hence the name H beam.
H beams are usually made of rolled steel plates, making it strong and durable.
Many industries use H beams because of its engineering and its trait of lasting longer than regular flat plates.
What is an H Beam Welding Machine?
H beam welding machines are auxiliary equipment used in the fabrication of h beams.
So, H beams aren’t just welded manually; in fact, an H beam fabrication line or machine works on multiple H beams at the same time.
It’s a flat-laid machine where long uncut plates are fed; the machine also handles the welding of each plate to attain the design desired by the client.
What is a PEB Beam Welding Machine?
PEB welding or fabrication machines are similar to what H beam welding lines are.
PEB stands for Pre-Engineered Buildings, which basically means that the parts of the machine are built and made prior to the assembly.
H Beam vs. I Beam: Which One Do You Need?
Did you know that a lot of people think that an H beam is similar to what an I beam is? When in reality, they’re a lot different!
They might seem similar at first glance but if you carefully consider everything, they’re a lot different.
H Beams are usually heavier and denser than I beams. This translates to the fact that the former is able to absorb and take in more force.
When it comes to the web or the center structure or the height of I beams, they’re generally thinner than H beams.
Both the top and the bottom flange of an H beam stick out further from the web; while I beams’ flanges are shorter and narrower.
Are H Beams Better Than I Beams?
You can look at it this way, but it’s not entirely true.
I beams are used in different applications in comparison to H beams. So, we can’t just conclude that H beams are better and a lot more cost-effective than I beams.
How Does an H Beam Welding Machine Work?
In case you’re not aware, an H beam welding machine is comprised of several weld heads lined up with each other.
It’s equipped with a solid bed underneath which holds the metal plate while the weld heads go through it. This is where the flanges of the H beam are shaped and cut.
Then web is made from a long piece of plate. It’s loaded onto a conveyor belt-like welding rollers alongside the flanges.
While it rolls towards a specific direction, weld heads on the side fuse and weld the flanges onto the center web. In most cases, the flanges are double-joined for a more secure and a safer weld onto the web.
Parts of an H Beam Welding Machine
An H beam welding machine is not just a singular equipment. It’s comprised of different parts with varying features and functionalities.
If you’re interested to know about it more, the usual components of a complete H beam welding machine includes:
- Main machine
- Made up of gantry frame, upper cylinder, boost beam, base, web, and flanges
- Roller conveyor
- Centering draw bar system
- Electric control system
- Hydraulic system
- Shielding tools and equipment
Those are the most basic things you can see in an H beam welding machine.
What Materials are H Beam Welding Machines Made Of?
You can find many H beam welding machine manufacturers and suppliers using a variety of materials to produce their h beams.
More often than not, the wide majority of H beam welding machines are made from varying types of steel.
The kinds and types of steel you can use would greatly depend on its feature and functionality.
Usual Size and Weight of H Beam Welders
Since H beam welding and fabrication machines are auxiliary equipment, you can expect that their weight would be too heavy for a regular worker to carry.
As a matter of fact, the weight range of these machines can be seen between 9 to 20 tons.
What is an Electron Beam Welding Machine?
It’s the machine you use if you want to perform electron beam welding.
Electron beam welding, for all of you who are not aware, is a welding procedure where the electron gun generates electrons to ultimate speeds through the use of electric fields.
Its counterpart, the laser beam welding machine, is usually seen as a better option. However, there are instances where EBW machines are more efficient and beneficial.
What is an I Beam?
It’s a type of beam that you usually use in the structural or the construction industry.
We know it as I beam because it takes on the shape of the letter “I” when you look at it front-facing.
If you thought that an I beam is the same as an H beam, think again! We’ll help you understand it more down below.
Parts of an I Beam
The parts of an I beam include:
- Flange
- Web
How Strong are I Beams?
When you see the structure or the design of an I beam, you might be confused what it’s for.
In order to fully understand the importance of I beams, imagine a single piece of plywood. Place that plywood where both its longitudinal ends are only supported at the edge.
While it’s in that position, try standing at the middle of the plywood. You might not even be able to – it will break.
Now, to add extra strength and support, try placing a single strip of Styrofoam below that plywood and another piece of plywood below that.
Both the plywood and the Styrofoam are weak materials; but with that addition, you’ll be able to easily stand on the middle!
That brings us to our next question, which is…
Why Use I Beams?
Since they’re engineered to bend and compress at the top and be tensed at the bottom, you can find a lot of different uses for it.
The most common reasons why I beams are used include:
- Support trusses
- Building and establishment framework
- Unlike other structures, I beams are inexpensive and usually requires less material
- Useful for a wide variety of weights and loads
- Versatile, flexible, and efficient
Those are just some of the most common reasons why you’d want to use I beams. There are others such as its flexible design – among others.
Can You Join I Beams Together?
Yes, you can actually join and weld two (2) pieces of I beams together.
The process on how you can achieve this is usually done either welding or bolting. The connection would be from under of each of the flange, the web, and/or the bevel.
Joining them could be to elevate or increase the range of support and strength; or for it to be able to cover a larger array of components or parts.
Difference of H Beam and I Beam
The wide majority of people think that I beams and H beams are the same. However, they’re actually not.
Both of them may have the same structure and purpose, but they’re not the same thing! Here are a couple of differences you can keep in mind:
Flange Difference
One of the most distinctive features in which they differ include the flanges.
The flanges of an H beam are generally thicker, which means that you use them in applications where it needs to support bigger and heavier weights than normal.
In addition to that, the flanges of I beams have inclination – this is what assisted in the labeling of it as an “I” beam. H beams, on the other hand, have flattened out, leveled flanges.
Strength and Durability Difference
The web, or the center or the height of the beam, is usually what helps dictate the strength of the beam.
Since H beams are higher and thicker, we can therefore conclude that they’re stronger. But, I beams have better and greater flange resistance than H beams.
Applications
Lastly, I and H beams greatly differ when it comes to application. But, you’re not limited to use it on just what you can use it for!
In choosing which one to use, you need to consider the following:
- Bend
- Buckle
- Tension and Compression
- Deflection
- Vibration
Those are just some of the factors you can identify to help you distinguish an H beam from an I beam.
Different Sizes of I Beams
Various I beam manufacturers and suppliers produce different sizes. As a matter of fact, it will also depend on the needs of the client.
However, in the study we’ve done, the most common I beam sizes that manufacturers produce are in the ranges of W 21” x 44” with a depth of 20.7” and width of 6.5,” and W 27 x 102 with a depth of 27.1” and width of 10.02.”
To help you further, here’s a quick video on how you can identify the self weight of a beam:
How Much is an I Beam?
In understanding I beams, the price alone is not enough for you to figure out how much you need.
Prices and costs are different if you just consider materials, or if it includes installation.
More often than not, a single steel I beam would cost around $5 to $20 per foot, for just the material. If it includes installation, though, it would cost you anywhere between $90 and $500 per foot.
So, the best thing to do is to fund an I beam welding manufacturer and supplier. Not only will you get the best prices, you can be assisted when it comes to installation, too!
Which H Beam Welding Machine Manufacturer Can You Trust?
There will never be a shortage of H beam welding machines in the market; especially if you consider the fact that the number of manufacturers is rising too!
Here in China, no other manufacturer is trusted but us here at Halden. We’ve propelled and sailed across the industry for over a decade, leaving nothing but satisfied clients.
You can ask us to create the exact H beam welding machine you need through the assistance of our Research & Development (R&D) team!
If it’s feasible, you can tell us about it and we’ll get back to you with what our findings are!
Why You Should Work With us Here at Halden
- All our machines have one (1) year warranty
- No Minimum Order Quantity (MoQ)
- You can get all your orders within a 2 to 3-week timeframe
- You will never have problems, especially when it comes to aftersales services
- We can specify the type and the kind of machine you need!
If you need fast and urgent delivery, don’t hesitate to contact Halden!
Our team of engineers is more than ready to help and assist! Contact us now and get an estimate for the equipment and the products you’ve been looking for!
