This week I spent a lot of time watching videos about proper welding technique and other things related to the craft. I think a little too much of my focus has been placed on the “how to”, instead of analyzing what I’ve already done and trying to correct it. I was lucky enough to find a nice set of posters in the welding area that give you “diagnostics” on a bunch of different possible weld problems. It’s funny how there’s way more than one way to mess it up.
I also decided to research a cool piece of welding equipment, the auto-darkening welding mask. When you use a regular welding mask, you have to hold the welding tip where you want it, then flip the mask down before you start welding. You’re essentially starting out blind, and then you can see by the light of the welder. This skill in and of itself could add a long time to the learning curve. Auto darkening welding helmets are the solution to that problem, and they do just that, they darken right when the bright light of the welder hits them.
I’ve always wondered how this works, so I decided to do some research. I found a few different sites that gave very long and scientific explanations of all the layers that make up the lens and exactly what they do to the light, but neither of us wants to read all of that, so I’ll do my best to summarize.
I’ve always wondered how this works, so I decided to do some research. I found a few different sites that gave very long and scientific explanations of all the layers that make up the lens and exactly what they do to the light, but neither of us wants to read all of that, so I’ll do my best to summarize.
Another thing I never realized was that the lens has UV and infrared filters in it that prevent any harmful rays from getting to your eyes, regardless of whether or not the auto-darkening feature is activated. Your eyes would still be damaged by the sun-like intensity of the light, but not from the rays. (http://weldingdesign.com/equipment-amp-automation/welding-helmets-what-you-need-know-you-buy) |
While reading through HPL this week, I saw a connection between my research on welding helmets, and the section on motivation to learn in chapter 3. Knowing why the helmet works the way it does won’t effect my welding performance at all, so I wouldn’t consider it “performance oriented” motivation, but rather “learning oriented”. It was an intrinsic reason, my own curiosity, which motivated me to look into the technology that allows the mask to auto darken, as there was no extrinsic reward for me in spending the time to do so. |