Application Reports are Case Studies and News from Wachs relating to interesting or difficult applications of our products and the industries we serve. Also look here for new product introductions, new or unusual machining procedures and other topics.
Click on the highlighted links below to download a PDF of these reports
Never Say Never - LCSF Custom Mounting on Elliptical Vessel
Volume 2: Issue 2 E.H. Wachs LCSF low clearance split frames are ideal machines for heat exchanger repair, precisely cutting and beveling while preserving the expensive outer vessel. At times a split frame can appear impossible to mount due to obstructions or, as in Praxair’s Ecorse, Michigan facility, a curved semi-elliptical head. We say never say never - bring us your toughest machining challenges. (Read more)
Cutting, Beveling and Drilling - LCSF Split Frames Used for Trepanning
Volume 2: Issue 1 E.H. Wachs split frame machine tools are typically thought of as inline pipe cutters and bevelers. While excellent for these applications they’re also ideal for trepanning, which is cutting and removing “plugs” much like drilling. Unlike ordinary drills the LCSF can infinitely vary the diameter of the hole being cut, limited only by the range of the machine. (Read more)
One Good Turn Deserves Another - P-2 and RS-2 Valve Turners Prevent Injury
Volume 1: Issue 7 Attempting to manually turn large industrial valves and valve handwheels can be injurious to your health. Arm, back and repetitive stress injuries have been associated with performing this demanding but important task. Left untouched industrial valves, particularly water valves, have a tendency to stick or freeze, meaning they may not work at a critical juncture. (Read more)
Out with the Old - Weld Excavation, Crown and Socket Weld Removal
Volume 1: Issue 6 Various failures can occur during the lifetime of critical piping systems, prompting the removal or “excavation” of the filler weld material down to the root pass. This operation is indicated when destructive cutting and replacement is undesirable, and where the original connection must be maintained. In power generation and other industries, weld crowns may require machining to meet in service inspection regulations, surface finish or profile requirements. Likewise when sockets are involved and no sacrifice to the pipe or sockets is desired... (Read more)
Facing Facts on Flange Facing - E.H. Wachs is More than Cutting & Beveling
Volume 1: Issue 5 Facing flanges is a vital part of plant maintenance. To rehabilitate a flange requires machining (facing) the flange mating surfaces to prevent leaks when reassembled. E.H. Wachs offers a wide range of I.D. and O.D. mounted machine tools that are multipurpose, able to face flanges as well as cut, bevel, single point and counterbore, offering much greater versatility than ordinary single purpose facers. (Read more)
Ins and Outs of Casing Cutting - Wachs Machine Tools Cut Outside and Inside
Volume 1: Issue 4 Downtime on an unproductive well is measured in thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars. E.H. Wachs EICC (External Internal Casing Cutter) provides a safe, reliable method of cutting the external conductor and inside production casing at various depths up to 72" (1829mm) below the wellhead. This makes it the ideal device, both offshore and onshore, for new installations, field repairs or emergency preparedness to limit expensive downtime installing or repairing production casing. (Read more)
Split Frames on Shutdown Coolers - Bruce Power & E.H. Wachs Keep Their Cool
Volume 1: Issue 3 Spring and fall outages are an important event for power plants, involving months of careful planning to minimize downtime. As part of the planned outage at the Bruce Power Station in Ontario four shutdown coolers with internal tube bundles were originally scheduled for cleaning. However closer inspection revealed they required complete removal and refurbishing to restore peak efficiency. Bruce Power partnered with Wachs Canada to expedite the needed repairs and maintain their tight schedule. (Read more)
Good Things Come in Small Packages - E.H. Wachs Ultra Compact Split Frame
Volume 1: Issue 2 As part of a safety system upgrade to automatically monitor the position of critical valves in its power plants Exelon required a miniature split frame to machine down a portion of the valve stem threads so a sensor strip could be mounted. At Newport News Shipbuilding this same split frame technology proved ideal for onsite machining in pipe racks and tube sheets. E.H. Wachs Ultra Compact Split Frame is our newest and smallest line designed to accommodate minimal axial and radial clearances. (Read more)
The Army Corps of Engineers and E.H. Wachs Make a Dam Good Team
Volume 1: Issue 1 The Army Corps of Engineers is constructing a new concrete dam and locks, scheduled to become operational in 2016, on the Ohio River located near Olmsted, Illinois. E.H. Wachs, in partnership with the Corps of Engineers, manufactured a customized, remote controlled underwater cutting system utilizing a diamond wire saw to horizontally cut submerged steel beams and sheeting used in the foundation of the new locks and dam. (Read more)
