How to Select an Orbital Welding System by Joint Type and Access
Select an orbital welding system by joint type and access
Start with the joint drawing, tube outside diameter, wall thickness, material and access envelope. A power source's maximum diameter does not mean every head fits every joint. Shortlist the head for the actual geometry, then confirm shielding, cooling, site power, welding procedure and inspection requirements before ordering.
Compare the current FYID-Feiyide system families
| Joint and workpiece | System to review | Critical selection check |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosed tube-to-tube TIG | FXT20 with C5/C10/C40/C80/C120/C170 | Combined standard OD 6.35–168 mm; check each head's OD, wall thickness and physical clearance. OD 3.175 mm needs paid customization and technical confirmation. |
| Straight tube to U-bend, socket or butt joint | FXT-U with U12/U16/U21/U25 | Head-specific OD 12.7–25 mm overall; check end-plate geometry, weld height, U-bend straight length, insertion depth and obstacle-free radius. |
| Tube-to-tubesheet joint | PT40 or PT80 configuration | PT40 standard tube OD 10–38 mm; PT80 16–80 mm. Ranges overlap, so confirm the tubesheet drawing and procedure. |
| Open-head industrial pipe TIG | FXT40 Pro with a selected K-series head | Choose the actual K head by pipe OD, wall thickness, groove, access and filler-wire procedure; do not infer all K heads share one range. |
Check site conditions before comparing features
FXT20 uses single-phase 220 V AC ±10%, 50/60 Hz input and 5–200 A DC output. Its power source is air-cooled; C5 is air-cooled, while C10/C40/C80/C120/C170 use cooling water from the power source's built-in tank and pump. FXT-U combines an FXT20 Pro power source with a selected U-series clamp. FXT40 Pro has a different power and head configuration. Confirm the exact quoted power source, head, cable, cooling arrangement and local supply rather than treating the families as interchangeable.
Define shielding and internal purge from the material, joint and qualified welding procedure. A closed head shields the weld zone, but no universal claim that it automatically protects the tube interior or eliminates a separate back-purge line should be made without a current gas-path drawing and project-specific validation.
Confirm the record format instead of assuming data export
FXT20 has a built-in printer and stores 200 parameter sets. FXT20 C-series supports USB export of weld data. Confirm the exported fields and file format required for the project. FXT40 Pro K-series has a built-in parameter printer and does not support USB weld-data export. A stored parameter set is not an approved WPS or an automatic PQR. If the project needs joint-linked electronic records, specify the fields, identifiers, retention and separately verified recording method.
Send the information needed for a configuration review
Provide joint and access drawings, tube OD and wall thickness, material, joint type, production quantity, site voltage/frequency, shielding and inspection requirements, and the intended welding procedure. FYID-Feiyide can then review the head choice and quotation. Do not use application labels such as semiconductor, sanitary or energy as a substitute for project qualification or a certificate.
Selection questions
Does standard FXT20 C-series cover 3.175 mm tube?
No. The standard combined C-series OD range begins at 6.35 mm. A 3.175 mm tube needs paid customization and technical confirmation.
Does a closed C-series head remove the need for internal purging?
Do not assume so. Internal purge depends on the material, joint and qualified procedure; confirm the current head gas path and the project's acceptance criteria.
Can FXT20 or FXT40 Pro export weld data through USB?
FXT20 C-series supports USB export of weld data; FXT40 Pro K-series does not. Both systems have a built-in parameter printer. Confirm the record fields and format required for the project.