Resistance Welding Electrodes
Luvata’s resistance welding electrodes are used primarily within the OEM automotive manufacturing industry. With manufacturing locations in the USA, United Kingdom and China, Luvata is the world's leading manufacturer of resitance welding cap electrodes, suppling automotive manufacturing plants in over 25 countries.
In today’s resistance welding market, cap electrodes are manufactured from four materials: AL2O3, CrCu, CrCuZr and CuZr.
A-Trode™
CuCrZr. C18150, RWMA Class 2. The lower percentage of chrome in comparison to the standard Class 2 CuCr material and the addition of Zr to this Copper alloy discourages the alloying affect of zinc and copper to form brass on the electrode face and helps to prevent sticking. Read more about A-Trode.
C-Trode™
CrCu. C18200, Luvata's standard Class 2 material. The industry standard for the welding of non-coated steels.
CUPAL™
0.5% AL2O3 in Copper. Dispersion Strengthened Copper C15725, RWMA Class 20. A cost effective alternative to Nitrode.
NITRODE™
1.1% AL2O3 in Copper. Dispersion Strengthened Copper C15760, RWMA Class 20. The most cost effective cap electrode available for resistance welding applications. Read more about Nitrode
NITRODE COMPOSITE™
A welding cap electrode with a Nitrode (C15760) core or insert, and a Z-Trode (CuZr C15000) jacket. Provides the performance of the full-bodied, Nitrode, while reducing the overall cost of welding. Read more about Nitrode Composite
P-Cap
The Luvata P-Cap is a self-dressing electrode that maintains a constant current density across the weld face under typical welding forces. It should be used with either the Nitrode Cupal or Z-Trode materials for the best results. Read more about P-Cap.
Z-Trode™
CuZr. C15000, RWMA Class 1. Superior electrical conductivity, resistance to sticking and annealing make this copper alloy material one of the most cost effective materials for welding light-to-medium gauge coated and uncoated steels. Read more about Z-Trode
The Ultimate Solution for Resistance Welding Coated Steels
The introduction of galvanized steels, high strength steels, as well as a variety of newly developed coatings into automotive manufacturing have posed new challenges to resistance welding. The zinc, higher strength steels and other coatings have proven to have adverse affects on the performance and life of the cap welding electrodes contributing to premature wear, sticking and increased dressing frequencies to maintain quality welds. As a result, traditional welding with chrome and/or chrome zirconium alloy electrodes has become inefficient and costly. Refinements in coating processes, in conjuntion with the utilization of new resistance welding materials has enabled the industry to dramatically increase their welding efficiency over the past few years. At this time, most of the automotive industry has elected to use products produced from either Aluminum Oxide Dispersion Strengthened Copper or Zirconium Copper.
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