Abstract: A method of splicing together leading and following webs which are delivered successively. In the splicing method, when the leading and following webs are different in shape or material from each other, there is interposed between the leading and following webs a dummy web for increasing the strength of splicing of the webs. Also, when the leading and following webs are welded and spliced togethr, the two webs are in part lapped on each other and the lapped portions thereof are cut inclined with respect to the width direction of the webs. After waste materials produced from the cutting are removed, the ends of the webs are butted against each other or slightly lapped on each other and are then welded together. A welded and spliced portion, which includes a fusion portion and a recrystallized portion produced due to heat during welding, is formed such that a difference between the web thickness of the recrystallized portion and the thickness of the adjoining portions of the recrystallized portion is within .

Abstract: A method of splicing together metal webs for use in planography with the ends thereof being butted or lapped against each other. In the metal web splicing method, the ends of the metal webs are spliced together in a butted manner, the splice portion thereof is welded, and the welded splice portion is rolled. According to the splicing method, there is left no level difference in the welded splice portion, which eliminates the possibility of the spliced metal webs being broken during the movement thereof and also has no ill effect on the coating process for the spliced metal webs.

Abstract: An apparatus for connecting strips, in which a rear end portion of a preceding strip and a front end portion of a succeeding strip are cut and brought into contact to each other so that a butt welding of the contacted portions may be carried out to connect both the strips. A carriage is provided for carrying a cutting device for cutting the end portions of both the strips. A finish-machining device is provided for finish-machining the cut end faces of both the strips and a welding device for butt welding both the strips along a contacting line of both the strips is installed so as to be movable in a line substantially parallel with the contacting line of both the strips. Die wears and burrs incidental to cut faces can be prevented from forming and the highly accurate contacted state of strips can be achieved, thereby improving the quality of the welded portion.

Abstract: A surface mount soldering/de-soldering tip holder includes a base having recesses or pockets formed therein that include at least one wall configured and sized to cooperate to a side surface of the tip. A cover plate having apertures formed therethrough is positioned on the base such that the apertures are aligned with the recesses in the base. Each aperture includes a convex portion for seating the shank of a soldering/de-soldering tip, while the portion of the cover plate adjacent to the convex portion extends over a portion of the respective recess to form a shelf. The shelf cooperates with the shoulder of a soldering/de-soldering tip once the tip is properly positioned in the recess. To remove a tip that is frictionally secured within a soldering iron adapter, the tip is inserted into one of the recesses formed in the base and positioned so that its shank is seated against the portion of the cover plate that forms the boundary for the convex portion of a respective aperture.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sculpture having simulated hair includes forming a rigid body of an animal figure having a plurality of small holes, cutting a plurality of lengths of metallic link chain to the desired length of hair strands for the body, soldering at least some of the chain links together with a metallic matrix having a lower melting temperature than the metal of the chain links, orienting the bonded chain links to style the chain into a preferred hair pattern, finishing the styled hair pattern chain with decorative metal plating or patina, and bonding the styled and plated chain hair pattern into the holes of the animal body.

Abstract: A soldering iron holder for holding an electric. Soldering iron having a large square tip at the end of a barrel, such as an iron that is used with surface mounted integrated circuits, has a base with a shield attached to a depressible mounting rod that extends through the upper surface of the base. The shield has a large frontal opening and mounted inside the shield, offset to one side, is a bracket with a side facing slot. The large opening allows a soldering iron with a large tip to be inserted into the shield, then moved sideways to insert the barrel of the iron into the slot of the bracket. When the iron is inserted into the slot, it depresses the shield which activates a weight switch connected to the base of the mounting rod. Activating the weight switch starts a timer that removes power from the iron if the iron remains in the holder for a long period of time. Also disclosed is a spring clip that may be attached to the slot in the bracket to aid in inserting the barrel of the iron into the slot.

Abstract: A welding apparatus that includes a welding rod pliers connected to a portable head shield by an elongated flexible articulated tube. The person can hold the pliers in one hand, with the flexible tube acting to position the shield in a proper location for viewing the weld connection. This feature leaves the person's other hand free to manipulate a clamp or other tool for holding the work pieces in place during the welding process.

Abstract: When working material with the aid of shock-wave generating energy sources, the problem of tool fatigue occurs.This problem is reduced to a great extent by means of the inventive method, which prevents the occurrence of reflected tensile-force waves. This is achieved by permitting the pressure wave to pass into contact with porous material applied to the tool material, so that wave energy will be consumed by interference and heat generation in the porous material.

Abstract: Strip joining apparatus for joining the ends of two metal strips in overlapping relation includes a shear assembly mounted for indexing movement from a remote location to a first shear position for shearing an end of one of the strips and a second position for shearing an end of antoher strip which is located further from the remote location than the first shear position by a distance corresponding to the desired overlap between the sheared strip ends. Different gauging or stop surfaces are used for locating the shear assembly in the first and second shear positions. Also, the end of the strip that is sheared at the first shear position is moved out of the way during movement of the shear to the second shear position so as not to interfere with the shearing of the other stirp at the second shear position.

Abstract: The invention provides a portable welding or cutting shield to assist in preventing welding or burning by-products from contaminating or damaging the inside surfaces of a pipe. The portable welding shield comprises a shield assembly for capturing the by-products released within and traveling along the length of the pipe, a leg assembly for supporting the shield assembly within the pipe and a splatter target that extends upwardly from the shield assembly. The leg assembly includes fixed first and second legs, and an adjustable third leg. The adjustable leg includes a screw actuator that allows the length of the leg to be radially adjusted so as to allow the leg assembly to be brought in and out of engagement with the inside diameter of the pipe. The shield assembly includes multiple flexible pieces of flame resistant fabric sandwiched between a top and a bottom pair of semi-circular plates.

Abstract: A method for making multi-colored composite laminates comprises stacking a plurality of colored strips in a predetermined pattern and bonding the strips into a composite laminate by continuous bonding. The composite laminate is then rolled before being passed through a deep steel pattern roll which forms a raised pattern on its surface. Next, the laminate is passed through a skiving table where the raised pattern is skived off to expose the multi-colored pattern formed by the underlying layers. The laminate is than flat rolled to a finished dimension and may be reeled up into a cylindrical roll.

Abstract: The invention provides a tool useful as an aid in joining pipes by welding. The tool includes means for positioning and holding an insert ring in a predetermined position with respect to the end of a pipe while the insert ring is tack-welded to an end of the pipe. Means is also included permitting the ends of the pipe to be welded to be aligned.

Abstract: A hand held, spring actuated single stroke piston desoldering instrument having a removable, replaceable nozzle tip in combination with a novel removal tool which also serves as a holder for several spare tips is disclosed. The barrel of the desoldering instrument is one-piece molded and includes an end cap portion with a forwardly protruding nose portion having a nozzle retaining central bore therethrough. The novel replaceable nozzle element has two annular grooves formed about its periphery: the first mates with an annular reduced diameter shoulder within the retaining bore of the end cap; the second is normally disposed forwardly of an outside of the end cap where it may be gripped by a pair of flexible jaws on the removal tool.

Abstract: A wire drawing machine having first and second capstans for unwinding wire from first and second coils and for pulling the wire through first and second wire drawing dies. The output from both capstans is directed to a single production machine, with the capstans alternately supplying the production machine so as to maintain a substantially continuous flow of wire to that machine.

Abstract: A device for correcting warp of printed circuit boards in carrierless soldering apparatus wherein the printed circuit boards are soldered while being held by holding claws of a conveying means is disclosed, which comprises a sliding means involving a single or plural warp-correcting means, sliding plates for installing the warp-correcting means thereon, and a single or plural pairs of slide beds provided in parallel to the direction of movement of the printed circuit boards, and a driving means for reciprocating the slide means in parallel to the direction of movement of the printed circuit boards.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for depositing solder onto component lead pads of a printed wiring board. Solder preforms which are multi-layer, solder containing members are positively biased against the pwb pad which is then introduced into a vapor phase environment defining a temperature gradient between approximately ambient and the temperature of a saturated vapor of a first selected fluid which defines a primary saturated vapor phase with a boiling point which is greater than the melting point of solder. A second fluid having a boiling point which is lower than the first fluid is utilized to generate a secondary vapor blanket in order to prevent excessive loss of the fluid defining the primary vapor phase. The pwb is heated according to a controlled process in which the temperature of the pwb is continuously monitored.

Abstract: A manual tool for preparing tube ends and/or pipe ends for jointure is provided, to perform the functions of scraping for cleaning, scarifying, deburring and abrading to remove grit and foreign matter such as solder, solder drops, chemical substances, or other debris on the outer and/or inner surfaces of the ends of tubing, pipe fittings and the like, prior to connection of said tubing, pipe and fittings by welding, soldering, etc. A plurality of tool units are detachably connected to a manual tool comprising a tool body adapted to fit readily and confortably in the hand of a user, said tool body having a generally circular shape. The tool units may comprise: external brush units, internal brush units, external sharpened blade units, internal metal blades or ribs having sharpened edges and the like or other desirable tool units having sharpened edges, abrasive surfaces, and the like to perform the desired cleaning, scarifying, scraping, etc.

Abstract: In a roller leveler having a number of work rollers, an improvement is proposed when a junction of metal web passes. Position detecting circuitry detects the junction of the metal web to output a detection signal. In response to the detection signal, an arithmetic unit applies an instruction signal to a depression control unit so that an amount of adjustment to be given to the metal web in the roller leveler is controlled to a suitable value.

Abstract: A solder assembly for facilitating soldering operations includes a stand having a pivotally mounted soldering iron rack for receiving and supporting a soldering iron plugged into a power outlet socket on the stand during periods of non-use. The soldering iron rack is arranged to operate a switch upon withdrawal of the soldering iron from the rack for use to activate a motor driven fan housed in a hood supported above the stand by an articulated member on the stand. The fan upwardly sucks the noxious gases produced by the soldering process through an activated charcoal filter positioned an a trumpet-shaped air passage defined by the hood for discharge through a nozzle rotatably and angularly adjustably mounted in the exhaust outlet port of the hood. A lamp manually energized by a separate switch is provided in the hood to illuminate the work area. A sponge pad and a solder reel support strut are provided on the stand.

Abstract: A system for making a long length of seam-welded tubing from shorter lengths of flat metal strip which are spliced end-to-end and formed into tubular form and seam-welded. Adjoining ends of two successive lengths of the strip are trimmed at supplementary angles, one of which is an acute angle. The trimmed ends are abutted and welded, preferably with weldment extending beyond each such end. All surfaces of the weld are finished to match the dimensions of the strip. The tubing, along with the welded joints, is heat treated as the tubing is formed to produce a product substantially free of internal surface roughness along the splice welds.

Abstract: An apparatus, for butt-welding steel strips using a laser beam are disclosed, in which opposite ends of preceding and succeeding steel strips fed continuously are cut and the cut end edges thus formed are welded by butt welding using a laser. The cutting and butting at the time of welding are effected with one edge of the preceeding steel strips adjacent to the opposite ends of the succeeding steel strips aligned to be parallel with the center line of travel of the continuous processing line. When effecting the alignment, the preceding or succeeding steel strip is attracted by an electromagnetic chuck on a work table in the continuous processing line and is pulled by the chuck toward a reference block provided with an alignment edge parallel to the center line of travel of the processing line to bring the edge of the sheet into contact with the reference block. The alignment is done in this state. The work table is capable of being moved along the continuous processing line.

Abstract: The front of a new steel strip is welded to the tail of a strip being formed in a continuous pipe mill or the like at an improved splice station. The ends of the strips are sheared to match and are clamped on a carriage movable in the longitudinal direction of the strips. A pair of pinch rolls downstream from the carriage for holding the tail of the strip in the mill can be translated in a direction transverse to the strip for aligning the tail with the front of the new strip of metal. Movement of the pinch rolls and carriage bring the ends of the strips into alignment and abutment. An automatic welder on the carriage butt welds the seam between the ends of the strips. A milling cutter traverses across the welded seam for removing excess weld bead to prevent damage to rolls in the forming mill.

Abstract: A method, for butt-welding steel strips using a laser beam are disclosed, in which opposite ends of preceding and succeeding steel strips fed continuously are cut and the cut end edges thus formed are welded by butt welding using a laser. The cutting and butting at the time of welding are effected with one edge of the preceding steel strips adjacent to the opposite ends of the succeeding steel strips aligned to be parallel with the center line of travel of the continuous processing line. When effecting the alignment, the preceding or succeeding steel strip is attracted by an electromagnetic chuck on a work table in the continuous processing line and is pulled by the chuck toward a reference block provided with an alignment edge parallel to the center line of travel of the processing line to bring the edge of the sheet into contact with the reference block. The alignment is done in this state.

Abstract: A device to clean the nozzle of a welding torch in which the nozzle is inserted into the cleaning device, is cleaned by rotating blades and after cleaning the nozzle is sprayed with an anti-adhesive. In front of the access opening there is a cutting device which, when the nozzle is removed from the access opening, cuts off the tip of the welding rod that protrudes out of the nozzle.

Abstract: A pump impeller is coated essentially without use of core structures. The pump impeller coating is performed in several stages. Partial units of the impeller are coated, whereafter the coated partial units are assembled together. Exposed areas of the impeller are then coated to provide a continuous coating over the entire impeller.

Abstract: Formation of a double sandwich braze joint between the steel body of a bit and a carbide insert tip disposed in a groove formed across the body is facilitated by a butterfly-type shim having a semiopened bottom placed within the groove between surfaces on the bit body defining the groove and adjacent surfaces on the insert tip. The shim has a pair of upstanding spaced side walls and a pair of spaced bottom webs extending between and interconnecting the side walls so as to dispose them between adjacent side surfaces of the bit body groove and insert tip, with lower edges of the shim side walls disposed generally above the bottom webs. The bottom webs rest on the bottom surface of the bit body groove and, in turn, elevate the shim side walls so that their lower edges are spaced above the groove bottom surface.

Abstract: A device for applying solder to two opposite faces of an object, such as an array of conductors of a flat electrical cable, in a predetermined location, comprises a support sheet having a line of weakness along which the sheet can be folded to define two arms, each having a free end; a quantity of solder located on a face of each of the arms of the support sheet; and means for controlling flow of the solder, when heated, in a direction perpendicular to the line of weakness. The controlling means may be a strip of a resiliently deformable material.

Abstract: A pallet for conveying a plurality of ceramic leadless chip carriers (LCC) through an automated wave soldering machine. The pallet includes recesses formed to receive and contain the LDD's with the lid of the LCC facing into the recess. This results in protecting the lids from the molten solder. Additionally, the recesses are formed in a diamond orientation with a solderable pin placed at the trailing apex of each recess. Both the pin and the diamond orientation prevents solder build up on the trailing conductive pads, resulting in enhancing the coplanarity of the solder on the pads.

Abstract: A flux fume removal device for series insertion in a vacuum line includes a housing which contains a duck bill valve to provide a pressure drop. After passing through the duck bill valve, the fumes then pass through a sponge which collects liquid flux.

Abstract: To avoid having to metallize a bare glass fiber prior to soldering it into a hole of a metal part to obtain a hermetically sealed lead-through bushing, the solder is permitted to shrink onto the glass fiber. This is achieved by either soldering an additional solder body to the metal part outside the hole or providing the wall of the hole with a nonsolderable coating over part of its length. If the metal part is designed as a sleeve, a recess exposing part of the hole causes the solder to firmly shrink on to the bare glass fiber during solidification. The hermetic seal is obtained by arranging the connections of the solder with the metal part and with the glass fiber essentially one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the glass fiber.

Abstract: A metal strip connecting method for welding the tail end of a preceding metal strip and the forward end of a succeeding metal strip. The tail and forward end portions of the two strips which are clamped by respective clampers are cut to required sizes by cutting means which are respectively mounted on frames secured to tables provided with the clampers and which are movable along a passage extending in the lateral direction of the strips. The cut end faces are butted against each other and welded selectively by flash welding or laser beam welding in accordance with the material of the strips. The flash welding is effected by supplying a flash current between the clampers, and the laser beam welding is effected by means of a laser beam machining head which is mounted on the frame secured to either one of the tables and which is movable along said passage.

Abstract: A portable holder for a hand held type electric soldering iron which iron includes an insulated handle, a heater section and a bit. The holder includes a first support and a bit support supported in spaced relation on a base. The first support and the bit support are adapted to support an iron in a first position wherein the iron is in a stand-by or storage position with the bit in the bit support. The bit support has a shield of material to inhibit air flow about a bit contained therein. The bit support is constructed such as to prevent direct accidental contact with it. A second support spaced from the first support is with the first support adapted to hold an iron in a second position wherein the iron is held in an operable soldering position. The base is provided with a plurality of peripherally located posts about which the electric cord of the iron may be wrapped for storage.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for use in connection with material such as fluxed, woven, copper ribbon, sometimes called "desoldering braid" to capture and removed unwanted, molten solder from electronic components. A preferred embodiment comprises a hand-held desoldering braid gun having a handle in which a supply of desoldering braid may be stored, a finger trigger actuated pincer-type cutter positioned in the mouth of the "barrel" of the gun, a guide conduit for forming a path for desoldering braid coming from the handle through the cutter, and a thumb-actuated drive mechanism for moving desoldering braid to and fro past the cutters. Another embodiment includes a handle to receive a pre-packaged cassette of desoldering braid.

Abstract: An attachment device adapted to be fused to an underwater object which includes a housing having a fuel chamber in generally surrounding relationship to an ignition chamber, a closure normally closed in communication between the chambers, an ignition device which opens the closure and ignites the fuel in the fuel chamber creating a high temperature flame which is directed toward an end of the attachment device resting against an underwater object, the end having a fusion groove for directing the flame against a localized area of the underwater object to render the metal thereof molten, and also having one or more passages for redirecting the molten material back toward the attachment device such that upon solidification, one or more discrete rigidifying bridges of molten metal are formed, and a groove defined by a pair of lips is also positioned adjacent the end for further directing the high temperature medium to achieve effective fusion.

Abstract: A welding apparatus for butt weld joint of steel plates such as steel strips is assembled together with a grinding device, which is combined in one system. The grinding device is so arranged that grinding wheels of this system can be moved along the welded joint following just after the welding torch. The clamping dies for clamping the welding portion of the steel plates are divided sectionally provided with mechanisms for shifting the respective divided clamping dies between a first clamping position during welding and a second clamping position during grinding. The upper unit of the grinding device can be moved along a rail assembly for guiding the welding torch. The lower unit of the grinding device can be moved along a rail assembly for guiding the shearing machine.

Abstract: A continuous steel hot-rolling method and apparatus for successively bonding a plurality of steel pieces of a predetermined length and maintained at a high temperature so as to form a continuous train of the steel pieces for roll by a rolling mill. The apparatus includes a holding device for holding a trailing end of a preceding steel piece and a leading end of a succeeding steel piece. A device is provided for shearing the ends of the steel pieces while the ends are held by the holding device. A device heats the sheared trailing end of the preceding steel piece and the sheared leading end of the succeeding steel piece to a predetermined temperature, with a device being provided for driving at least one of the preceding and following steel pieces along a travel path of the steel pieces to press and bond the heated trailing end surface of the preceding steel piece and the heated leading end surface of the succeeding steel piece.

Abstract: A head worn device for feeding solder wire from a spool during a soldering operation while using a soldering iron. The device includes a semi-flexible tube that has one end portion mounted on the head worn device. A rotatable spool of wire solder is affixed to the head worn device near the mounted end of the tube. The wire solder is ducted through the tube to the opposite end which is open so that a short length of solder can be exposed. Therefore, the operator can apply the wire solder during a soldering operation while keeping both hands free to handle the soldering iron and position the workpiece or component.

Abstract: Two cleaning bodies which rotate towards and in contact with each other, are utilized for quickly mechanically cleaning soldering iron bits or tips and the soldering iron bit or tip is inserted between the cleaning bodies. The rotary movement of the cleaning bodies originates via a drive or gear from a drive motor. A holder is mechanically connected with an actuating member of a switch for operating the drive motor. In the unloaded position of the holder, i.e. when the soldering iron is removed from the holder, the drive motor is switched-on. When the soldering iron bit or tip of the soldering iron is placed into the holder, the holder is loaded and now tilts backwards, causing the actuating member to actuate the switch for operating the drive motor. Thus, the current to the drive motor is turned off and the apparatus is placed out of service.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding an IC device for tinning the leads in a wave soldering machine is disclosed. The apparatus utilizes a pair of beveled surfaces, one on each side of the lead to be tinned, to limit the extent of penetration of the lead into the molten solder. The beveled surfaces are made of a material which cannot be wet by the molten solder, therefore, surface tension of the solder will tend to limit penetration of the molten solder into the area defined by the beveled surfaces.

Abstract: A single tool, especially for use by gas welders, that combines a soapstone marker, a rotary spark igniter and a plurality of torch cleaning wires. The tool is of metal construction, of pencil-like shape, readily manually manipulable, and easily releasably carried in or on the clothing of a mechanic.

Abstract: A device for shearing, welding and aligning two sheets of thin material includes two segmented tables arranged on opposite sides of a vertically moveably welding head. Substantially parallel shears are equally spaced on opposite sides of the welding head. The sheets of material are arranged so that their uneven ends lie between the welding head and the respective shears. Clamping bars are arranged to clamp the sheets of material snugly against moveable segments within each of the segmented tables. The uneven ends are clamped in position and then sheared off. The moveable segments and the clamping bars move the two sheets of material inwardly toward the welding head. The distance that the moveable segments move slightly exceeds the distance between the welding head and respective shears so that the sheared ends overlap a preselected distance. A deflector arranged in the proximity of one of the shears assures that one of the sheets overlaps the other sheet.

Abstract: The guide plates of a soldering apparatus for carrier strip are provided with grooves and slide bars that fit the grooves. The bars have pins fitting holes in the strip and means for precisely positioning the bars lengthwise in the grooves.

Abstract: In the production of metal- and other strip materials in continuous lengths and in several operations or processing facilities, such strip is wound into coils of finite length after each operation, then transported to the next operation and again welded into one continuous web, coil after coil.In order to avoid this wasteful practice a method and apparatus is disclosed which consists in feeding said strip emerging from one operation, without cutting it, directly into a variable capacity accumulator and feeding it out again from said accumulator into the apparatus of the following operation at the speed that such operation requires.

Abstract: The invention relates to a portable workshop having various facilities for performing precision machine work at a work site and which includes a mobile trailer having first and second sections with transport wheel and suspension assemblies and a trailer hitch whereby the trailer may be easily towed from one work site to another. One section is separable from the other and the transport wheels remain with one platform while smaller wheels are provided on the other platform with elevating mechanism to lower the platform onto the smaller wheels. One platform may have equipment such as a welder which might be separated and used on one location at the job site while the other section has various tools, including a crane and a container for storing the tools, which might be moved to and utilized at another location at the site.

Abstract: A device for joining electronic transmission wire to electronic connectors is described that is designed to assist in joining wire to both male and female connectors. Holes are fitted in the device to accept the male connectors and pins are fitting on the device to accept the female connectors. Since most electronic connectors are small in size and require precision work, this device allows the operator using either a soldering, brazing or welding method to use both hands and concentrate on the intricate details of joining wire to the small electronic connectors.

Abstract: A solder station for production dipping of small parts equipped with an automatic dross removal arrangement which consists of a vertically oriented skimmer motor positioned above the solder pot with a long drive shaft extending vertically downward to the pot and a rotating skimmer blade attached to the drive shaft. The skimmer blade rotates slowly and ejects the dross from the top of the solder pot from where it drops down onto a unique sloping dross tray and into a trough from where it may be readily removed. The solder station may be equipped with a forced air filtering system that draws the fumes from the solder pot through a removable filter and expels the filtered air through louvered openings through ducts to the outside. The skimmer motor may be equipped with a friction clutch that prevents damage to the motor in case the rotation of the skimmer should be obstructed. The solder station may have an auxilliary power outlet and thermostatic control of the solder pot temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to the alignment of the edge of an element in the form of a sheet or plate of small thickness for the purpose of edge-to-edge assembling of the same with others on a work bench. Each positioning member comprises a translatorily and rotatorily displaceable finger, and a member for control of its linear and angular positioning, the finger being arranged to assume an active position for which it is in contact with the edge of one element and a retracted position for which it allows of laying along-side the edge of a second element. The invention applies in particular to edge-to-edge alignment of steel plates which are plane or shell-shaped for the purpose of butt welding the same on a longitudinal bench.

Abstract: A method of joining a first pipe having an outer surface and an annular end face and a fitting having an end face surrounding a shoulder recessed therein which includes inserting a spacer having a predetermined thickness and formed of a synthetic resin into the recess in abutment with the annular shoulder followed by inserting the annular end face of the pipe into the recess until the annular end face, the spacer and the annular shoulder are in mutual contact, temporarily tack welding the pipe to the fitting to establish spacing between the annular end face of the pipe and the annular shoulder of the fitting, and permanently welding the pipe to the fitting. In one embodiment, the heat from the permanent welding step vaporizes the spacer leaving a gap of predetermined size between the confronting annular end face of the pipe and the annular shoulder of the fitting.

Abstract: A soldering apparatus is disclosed for attachment to a positioning robot arm. A soldering iron and a supply of solder are combined on an accessory tool and additionally the robot has the capability of periodically cleaning the soldering iron to maintain a high degree of repetitive quality. Additionally the time to accomplish repetitive soldering functions is significantly reduced.

Abstract: Leadless chip carriers (LCCs) are pretinned using wave soldering equipment. A magnetic fixture having a coating of material which is non-solderable provides a plurality of LCC retention locations. The LCC retention locations are configured to ensure free solder-wave access to all edges of the chip carriers disposed thereon and to substantially prevent the dislodging of the chip carriers by the forces of the solder wave.