How Conductivity Impacts Weld Quality
Conductivity is a measure of a material's ability to carry an electrical current. It sounds simple enough, yet poor conductivity is one of the most common and frequently overlooked causes of poor welding performance.

An erratic, sputtering arc, a gradual need to increase voltage, discoloration of the cable and liner and increased contact tip burnback are all symptoms of poor conductivity.

Thankfully, identifying and resoluvingthe cause of poor conductivity is often easy and inexpensive.

Read the full article, as published by The Fabricator's Web site.

New Dura-Flux Options
Due to overwhelming interest in the Dura-Flux™ gun among companies using Tweco® 4 and Euro® wire feeder connections, Bernard has created direct plug kits for those connection styles.

The Dura-Flux direct plug replacement kits allow the gun to be easily transferred from one type of feeder to another, providing increased job-site versatility and reducing the number of different gun brands a company must carry.

The Dura-Flux is also available with direct plug kits to match Miller® and Lincoln® wire feeders.

Learn more about the Dura-Flux and the new direct plug options.

Did you know...
Bernard has been a pioneer of welding technology since the 1940's? Learn more about Bernard's history of welding innovation.

Standardizing Success: Miller Welding and Machine responds to rapid growth by standardizing on Bernard Q-Guns and Centerfire consumables

MIller Welding and Machine reduced downtime and improved its weld quality with the use of Bernard Q-Guns and Centerfire consumables.

Rapid growth is a problem many companies would love to have, but it must be managed properly in order to maintain profitability and consistent product quality. Miller Welding and Machine Co., a Brookville, Penn. based subassembly fabricator for top-tier OEM manufacturers of cranes, aerial work platforms, mining and other heavy equipment, nearly doubled its workforce and expanded from one to three manufacturing facilities in the course of 1 1/2 years.

Fabricating dozens of different components across 150 welding cells, Miller figured out early on that using a variety of different welding equipment would create unnecessary operator downtime and maintenance costs. Having compared several brands of MIG guns and consumables, Miller chose Bernard Q-Guns and Centerfire consumables for their ability to increase productivity, reduce downtime and maintain weld consistency.

Miller installed vending machine-style dispensers that track all of the consumables used by each employee. The company chose to stock Centerfire consumables in these vending machines because they can be installed on any brand of MIG gun and because the Centerfire system lasts longer, changes over faster and produces higher quality, more consistent welds than other brands of consumables they tested.

Production Manager Dave Moore demonstrates Miller's consumables vending system. Just don't confuse that nozzle for a Snicker's bar!

The Centerfire contact tips last an average of five times longer than Miller's previous brand of consumables, and they change out in half the time as the other brand, resulting in over 47 fewer man-hours per month spent changing contact tips.

The Bernard Q-Guns also stood up to the challenge. If they hadn't performed well, "we'd have run them until they died, trashed them and replaced them with something else," explained Production Supervisor Dave Moore.

Instead, the Q-Guns proved versatile, durable and cost effective. "They hold up well, the repair and replacement costs are very reasonable and they offer a wide variety of configurations, so we can get the exact gun we need for all of our applications," Moore explained.

Visit the Bernard Web site to read the full story of Miller Welding and Machine's conversion to Bernard Q-Guns and Centerfire consumables.

Bernard Introduces High Deposition Q- and S-Guns

The HD Q- and S-Guns combine extreme durability with convenience and comfort features like the rubberized handle grip and locking trigger.

Welding at high current loads over long, contiuous joints is enough to make most MIG guns cringe with fear. Not so with Bernard's new High Deposition Q- and S-Guns.

Designed to withstand the intense heat of high deposition welding, these guns combine unmatched durability with comfort and maneuverabiity.

An armor-protected, locking trigger with optional dual-schedule switch provides toughness and durability while reducing the fatigue that comes with holding a trigger down for long periods.

Plus, the high deposition handle has been integrated into Bernard's online Configurator, making it as easy as clicking your mouse button to fully customize your HD Q-Gun or S-Gun. And for the ultimate in performance and durability, pair the HD handle with Bernard's new Heavy-Duty Centerfire consumables.

Visit the Bernard Web site to learn more about the HD Q- and S-Gun and Heavy-Duty Centerfire consumables.