Melttools is expanding its range of welding cameras with the introduction of the ruggedised MeltView Dart-A. The MeltView Dart-A is designed for remote, up close monitoring of ‘dirty’ welding processes such as gas metal arc welding (GMAW) that generate high amounts of spatter and metal vapour and are difficult or impossible for humans to access. It enables operators to safely monitor multiple machines simultaneously and record welding for trouble shooting and quality assurance. Magnified images of the weld zone provide image quality as clear or clearer than that seen through a welder’s helmet and facilitate real-time detection of welding defects. MeltTools quoted a GMAW operator as saying image quality with pulsed solid wire was great.

Like MeltTools’ flagship product, the MeltView 100, the MeltView Dart-A employs high dynamic range optical technology to produce a high quality image of welding. A key feature of MeltView technology is automatic switching between welding and non-welding states that provides a clear image of both. Once set up, MeltView cameras require minimal operational effort. Novel features of the MeltView Dart-A include smaller size, integrated lighting, and integrated air-cooling and knife, thus enabling visualisation of a wide range of applications such as pipe mill welding and plasma welding of stainless steel.

When provided with dry, clean air or nitrogen, the Dart-A can operate in temperatures up to 80°C (175°F). Cooling with purified air or nitrogen provides the added benefit of a gas knife that exhausts over the front of the camera to keep the optical pathway clear. This feature is particularly useful as the camera is designed for working distances of 4-12 inches (100-300 mm) between the front of the camera and the weld zone. Keeping the optical pathway clear during welding is a significant challenge for processes that generate high amounts of spatter and metal vapour. The MeltView Dart-A also features a replaceable spatter shield for a simple and low-cost way of maintaining a clear image. The MeltView Dart is also available in a water-cooled model called the MeltView Dart-X.

MeltTools designs and manufactures state-of-the-art camera systems that improve the productivity, quality and safety of machine welding operations.