Senior Airman Allan Smith, 507th Metal Technologies Shop works on the front cross member of a safety gate for an aerospace ground equipment B-4 stand. A time compliance technical order was issued mandating safety gates be added to the AGE B-4 and B-5 stands. Welding on the 12, B-4 and 5, B-5 stands began recently with a completion time expected to be 270 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Mark Hybers)

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Senior Airman Allan Smith, 507th Metal Technologies Shop works on a nearly completed front cross member of a safety gate for an aerospace ground equipment B-4 stand. A time compliance technical order was issued mandating safety gates be added to the AGE B-4 and B-5 stands. Welding on the 12, B-4 and 5, B-5 stands began recently with a completion time expected to be 270 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Mark Hybers)

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Senior Airman Allan Smith, 507th Metal Technologies Shop looks through his eye protection helmet as he works on the front cross member of a safety gate for an aerospace ground equipment B-4 stand. A time compliance technical order was issued mandating safety gates be added to the AGE B-4 and B-5 stands. Welding on the 12, B-4 and 5, B-5 stands began recently with a completion time expected to be 270 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Mark Hybers)

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Senior Airman Allan Smith, 507th Metal Technologies Shop hunches over getting close to the action as he works on the front cross member of a safety gate for an aerospace ground equipment B-4 stand. A time compliance technical order was issued mandating safety gates be added to the AGE B-4 and B-5 stands. Welding on the 12, B-4 and 5, B-5 stands began recently with a completion time expected to be 270 days. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Mark Hybers)

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Welding on safety gates underway

Published April 3, 2014
By Senior Airman Mark Hybers
507 Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Senior Airman Allan Smith, 507th Metal Technologies Shop works on the front cross member of a safety gate for an aerospace ground equipment B-4 stand. A time compliance technical order was issued mandating safety gates be added to the AGE B-4 and B-5 stands. Welding on the 12, B-4 and 5, B-5 stands began recently with a completion time expected to be 270 days.

Smith is using a gas tungsten arc welding setup. The arc is caused by the passing of electrons from the torch head, known as the tungsten, to the base metal being welded.

There are two types of currents. The one used here is the Direct Current, which means the current only flows in one direction. When working with steel, titanium, cobalt etc., Allan uses the DC Electrode Negative which means the current flows from the torch to the metal.

The process of welding these safety gates involves heating the base metal bars until it forms a liquid puddle. Allan then dips a metal filler rod into the puddle causing the filler rod to melt, ultimately forming a bond between the two base metals.