Title: System Overview - Safety
Course: WLDT 260 Welding Automation

System Overview - Safety
Learning Objectives
Objective SCO 2268
Instructions
DO NOT BEGIN THIS ASSIGNMENT UNTIL YOU HAVE COMPLETED ASSIGNMENT #1

First read all of the steps shown below, then follow the steps shown in the order given.
1. Retrieve your lab notebook.
2. Review, take complete notes and memorize on the information contained on the following pages.
3. Contact your instructor when you are ready to be tested on the above.

Instructions Continued
The following pages contain safety information for the use of the 36E Longitudinal Seamer located at Southwestern Illinois College Sam Wolf Granite City Campus.  This information along with the safety information contained in the owner's manual for this equipment and your instructors guidance is to be used to safely operate the seamer.  Although this information may or may not apply to other seamers, this information is not intended to replace the safety requirements of any other seamer, place of work, place of learning, etc.

Safety RequirementsPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements

The following personal protective equipment is required when operating the SWIC Longitudinal Seamer.
1. OSHA Approved Safety Glasses with Sideshields
2. Leather Work Boots
3. Weld shop appropriate full length work pants
4. Weld shop appropriate long sleeve work shirt
5. Welding helmet with a #10 shade lens or a full face shield appropriate for seamer welding with a #10 shade lens
6. Ear plugs (when sound levels are 85 decibels or above)
7. Work gloves (preferably thin gloves made for gas tungsten arc welding) Note: do not wear gloves when using pedestal grinder or around any moving parts where gloves may get caught and pull hands and fingers into pinch points

Pinch Points

The following is a list of potential pinch point areas of the SWIC seamer. Keep yourself and others safe while operating the seamer by staying clear of these areas.
1. Between the carriage and the sidebeam
2. Between both the front and rear banks of fingers and the mandrel
3. Between the slide block and the slide base
4. Between the end latch and the mandrel
5. Between the torch and the mandrel or the weld piece
6. Between the torch and either end of the upper frame

Additional Safety Requirements
1. Follow all weld lab safety rules as posted upon entry into the weld lab
2. Follow all additional safety precautions as given by your instructor
3. If you feel unsafe at any time, or have any other safety concerns, safely stop what you are doing and tell your instructor
4. Always maintain an awareness of your surroundings and activities going on around you with safety in mind
5. Notify your instructor immediately if you or someone else is injured

Carriage Movement Safety
SAFETY REQUIREMENT!  ALWAYS ENSURE THAT NO PERSONS OR OBJECTS ARE LOCATED IN ANY PINCH POINT DANGER ZONES OF THE SEAMER!

The carriage rides on the sidebeam to carry the torch along the weld seam.

The following videos show the movement of the carriage on the sidebeam from both the front and back sides.

When it is in motion, the operator must ensure to keep himself/herself as well as other persons and objects from being located where they may become injured.

Carriage Movement on Sidebeam From Frontside | Carriage Movement on Sidebeam from Lower Rear

Carriage Engage / Disengage Lever
SAFETY REQUIREMENT!  ENSURE THE CARRIAGE MOTOR IS NOT RUNNING WHEN ENGAGING OR DISENGAGING THE PINION TO THE RACK!
The following video shows how to use the carriage engage/disengage lever to engage and disengage the pinion gear on the carriage gearmotor to the rack.  When disengaged the carriage can be manually moved back and for on the sidebeam.  When engaged, the carriage must be moved through the use of the forward and reverse pushbuttons located on the carriage control.  The operation of the forward and reverse pushbuttons will be shown on another page within this lesson.

Carriage Hard Stop Pinch Points
SAFETY REQUIREMENT!  ALWAYS ENSURE THAT NO PERSONS OR OBJECTS ARE LOCATED IN ANY PINCH POINT DANGER ZONES OF THE SEAMER!

The carriage rides on the sidebeam to carry the torch along the weld seam.

The following video shows the movement of the carriage on the sidebeam close to the end of beam.  At each end of the sidebeam there are hard stops that keep the carriage from rolling off of the beam.  There is a pinch point between the carriage and each of the hard stops.  Always ensure to keep yourself, others and objects from being located between the carriage and the hard stops.

Clamping of the Fingers
SAFETY REQUIREMENT!  ALWAYS ENSURE THAT NO PERSONS OR OBJECTS ARE LOCATED IN ANY PINCH POINT DANGER ZONES OF THE SEAMER!

The seamer is a clamping device.  It is used to clamp material against a backup bar for welding.

The following video shows the clamping movement of the front and rear banks of fingers against the backup bar.

The operator must ensure to keep himself/herself as well as other persons and objects from being located where they may become injured from the clamping motion.

The potential injury pinch point areas include but are not limited to the clamping fingers against the backup bar, the clamping fingers against the part being clamped, the part being clamped against the backup bar and the part being clamped against another object.

Opening and Closing the End Latch
SAFETY REQUIREMENT!  PRIOR TO OPENING THE END LATCH MAKE SURE THE SEAMER FINGER BANKS ARE NOT CLAMPED AGAINST THE BACKUP BAR!

The following video shows how to open and close the seamer end latch.

Torch Movement Pinch Point Zones
SAFETY REQUIREMENT!  ALWAYS ENSURE THAT NO PERSONS OR OBJECTS ARE LOCATED IN ANY PINCH POINT DANGER ZONES OF THE SEAMER!

Depending on the configuration of the seamer, there is the potential for the welding torch and related equipment such as wire feed tip manipulator or video camera to create a pinch point zone when it is in motion.

The following videos show the movement of a GTAW torch with a wire feed tip manipulator when it is mounted to an air powered slide and a carriage on a sidebeam.

When it is in motion, the operator must ensure to keep himself/herself as well as other persons and objects from being located where they may become injured.

Slide Pinch Point Zones
SAFETY REQUIREMENT!  ALWAYS ENSURE THAT NO PERSONS OR OBJECTS ARE LOCATED IN ANY PINCH POINT DANGER ZONES OF THE SEAMER!

If the seamer is equipped with a powered slide that moves the torch, there may be a pinch point zone created on the slide mechanism.  The specific pinch points are dependant on the configuration of the slide.

The following video shows an air powered slide configured to move the welding torch vertically up and down.  As can be seen from the video, when the slide moves there are pinch point zones that must be kept clear.

When the slide is actuated, the operator must ensure to keep himself/herself as well as other persons and objects from being located where they may become injured.