Audi R8 Hand Welded Aluminum Chassis

[H80N]

Was watching "Ultimate Factories" on the Audi R8 and was amazed to see that they mig welded the chassis together by hand..
here is a link to the show

http://channel.nationalgeographic.co.../4544/Overview

and here is a link from icar on welded alloy chassis..

http://www.i-car.com/pdf/advantage/o...008/051908.pdf

Could not find out what type of welders that Audi uses... anybody have any ideas??

thanks
Heiti

[Stillwelding]

Haven't seen the show, but in the one still image, they look like "Fronius" welding machines. Austrian made and quite sophisticated electronics, I believe. Some US market penetration. Try http://www.fronius.com/cps/rde/xchg/...s.xsl/3022.htm. The only problem (I consider it a problem) is that almost all TIG machines made outside of the US market are based on a torch mounted amperage control. I'm a tried and true "Foot control" TIG welder. I have an ESAB with hand control and just don't like the lack of control I get with the hand switch.

[Chuck U&R]

Maybe I'm wrong but it looks like they're mig welding.

[Stillwelding]

Sorry, I was just rambling about European welding machines in general (TIG). They are MIG welding, and I still think those are Fronius welding machines.

[H80N]

Stillwelding
might very well be Fronius machines... have some info that i-car developed their aluminum car structural repair program in Appleton, Wi. maybe using MM350P machines??? wouldnt mind some input from Andy or somebody from Miller.....
Also
while skunking around for this found some cool Al design info .....
here are some links...

http://aluminumintransportation.org/.../at6manual.pdf

and here an industry group.. lots of info..

http://aluminumintransportation.org/...ut-us/about-us

my MM350P and Alumapro would be right at home.....

[Stillwelding]

Thanks for the PDF file attachment on the Aluminum extrusions. Also, I looked at the video in the link from the first post, and those are definitely "Fronius" equipment. Red and white with a Fronius label on the side. I wouldn't expect much other than Fronius.

[H80N]

Could be....... Fronius was not sure, I exchanged notes with them today.. they will get back with me.... still think a MM350P would be about right..

[H80N]

For what it is worth... lots of the engineering for these structures.. Audi, Ferarri, Jag etc... is ALCOA in Ohio... U. S. of A..

http://www.alcoa.com/aats/en/product...sp?cat_id=1527

[H80N]

More and more aluminum in automotive structures... and many will need repair...

http://www.search-autoparts.com/sear...l.jsp?id=58064

and i-car is starting to qualify people for that welding ability..

http://www.i-car.com/html_pages/trai...wqt_info.shtml

[raptorex]

Well Stillwelding it may be time for you to do a bit more research about non USA manufactured welding equipment.I believe nearly all brands of tig welding equipment produced outside the US are available with foot controls.Also most of the European manufactured machines are technically further advanced than US equipment.I have a 230 amp single phase AC/DC tig manufactured by Kemppi in Finland.It also has the ability to weld Ali in a mix of AC and Dc.
Have a look at Kemppi.com.Also German manufacture EWM machines