Working with aluminum can be a complicated process, especially when joining two different aluminum alloys or aluminum with another metal. One of the most effective methods to create durable, reliable joints with aluminum and other metals, or joining aluminum to aluminum, is to use a brazing process.
Brazing can be done manually, or part by part, or it can be done using automated systems and furnace brazing technology. Robotics to apply the brazing paste and precision continuous mesh belt feeds into the furnace and for the cooling cycle are ideal for lowering costs and ensuring complete quality control even on very large volume orders.
What to Consider
When brazing aluminum, issues such as thickness or thinness of the walls of the part or component need to be considered. In addition, the location of the braze in relation to the shape of the part needs to be considered. The more complex the shape, or the more difficult the joint area is to access, the more effective furnace brazing and robotic application of the brazing paste are for the part.
With the choice of brazing aluminum, particularly through furnace brazing methods, the lower the waste and the greater the precision for each joint. With the ability to braze multiple joints on a part with one pass, this is an effective option to consider.
The ability to choose the brazing paste to match the specific temperatures to work with the aluminum alloy and the other metal also makes this an ideal process. Once configured and set up, the process can run continuously, allowing for rapid production of even extremely high volume order requirements.
The choice of brazing aluminum also allows for the joint or joints to be formed without changing the characteristics of the two or more workpieces. This means there is no need for additional stress relief processes after the brazing, reducing both time and cost of production.
