Welding

Welding is often used where parts made of similar metal or alloy have to be joined. Due to the typically high melting point of modern metallic materials, however, new methods of welding, involving tools with a higher energy output, are required. Portable and semi-portable kits for flash and plasma welding, called simply “welders,” can now be found in most well-equipped workshops. These can often reach tempera-tures of up to 10,000° Celsius for short periods of time, sometimes more (depending on the tool and the facilities). The bulk of the equipment and the short range of the torch makes for a poor weapon, however.Most welders can act both as a high-powered cutter and as a standard welding torch. Some bulky low technology models still rely on the oxydation reaction of two gases, but more modern devices use a plasma arc instead and are electrically powered from one or more superconducting loops. Power packs using standard hydrogen fuel cell generators are also available. The entire power pack assembly is housed in a rugged high-impact casing designed to protect it against rough treatment from hurried technicians