Space Industrial Operations: Welding in Space

[First Welder In Space]

I found an interesting idea that has not been thought of for welding in space - Newtons second law.

A hot gas welding apparatus used in space will have a micro-nozzle, facing the exact opposite direcrtion of the arch vector, which will provide a constant counter thrust. Otherwise, the welder and the gun will simply fly away from the work area into space.
Agreed, if using oxy/acet, which is fast becoming obsolete. A mig torch can be held in place thus canceling reverse thrust, the problem would be the necessity of a shielding gas which could act as a thruster and could not be used in a vacuum as far as i am aware. The environment around the the joint would have to have some sort of atmosphere or the wire or electrode would have to have some sort of flux within it. which they do. I find it hard to believe that welding in a vacuum has not been experimented with.  So I agree partially, physics and vacuum first must be addressed.

[Nomadd]

 Or, the welder could just attach himself to whatever he's working on.

[JohnFornaro]

You kinda left out ARC, Mig and Tig welding, all of which are fine in vacuum. In fact they should work better in space. The only unique equipment you are going to need is a magnetic device to grab slag spall, otherwise you create a lot of space junk issues.

It's not the vacuum so much as it is the lack of gravity to control sputter.  And what about non magnetic materials? 

[First Welder In Space]

You kinda left out ARC, Mig and Tig welding, all of which are fine in vacuum. In fact they should work better in space. The only unique equipment you are going to need is a magnetic device to grab slag spall, otherwise you create a lot of space junk issues.

It's not the vacuum so much as it is the lack of gravity to control sputter.  And what about non magnetic materials? 

like i said, aluminum is definitely non ferrous, i agree about the spatter, welding does create a slight magnetic field. these issues are definitely something we all need to go back and forth with. However, i do intend to do a lot of research here in my spare time, since i am a certified welder, and i love the continued exploration of space. we need to keep going on this so let's work the problem ladies and gentleman. Have a great week

[A_M_Swallow]

If the spatter is charged with static electricity then an electric field can be used to catch it.

[Bob Shaw]

The USSR actually carried out some limited welding experiments in 1969 on a very early solo Soyuz - I think it was one of the spacecraft involved in the famous triple vehicle flight (still unsurpassed!). I vaguely recall that is was done in sealed units carried within the Orbital Module - I'm sure some of the Soviet space history buffs on here could provide more details.

[krytek]

Vaccum welding
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_welding

[douglas100]

The USSR actually carried out some limited welding experiments in 1969 on a very early solo Soyuz - I think it was one of the spacecraft involved in the famous triple vehicle flight (still unsurpassed!). I vaguely recall that is was done in sealed units carried within the Orbital Module - I'm sure some of the Soviet space history buffs on here could provide more details.

On Soyuz 6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soyuz_6