Weld cost calculator

The weld dimensions give the cross-section, and with length and density the weld metal. The welding parameters per pass give time, electrical energy and gas consumption. The cost is made up of wages including overheads, filler metal, equipment, electricity and gas.

The cross-section is formed from the gap area, the triangular area of the included angle and one half-ellipse each for the reinforcement and the root bead, with a 10 % wider cap.

• For the square butt weld the reinforcement and root bead were halved. The cross-section came out about 23 % too small, and with it filler, gas and time.
• The machine hourly rate charged the tied capital in full every hour although depreciation already covers it. Imputed interest is now half the purchase price times the rate, divided by utilisation.
• For stick electrodes the deposition efficiency was multiplied instead of divided — higher efficiency made the weld more expensive. And the price field is now labelled per 1000 electrodes, as the trade prices them.
• Everything is on one page instead of three. The back button no longer loses entries.
• Input is checked before the calculation and named field by field. Empty fields used to break the page and impossible values passed without complaint.
• All five languages are complete. The middle step used to exist only in German and English; the French and Swedish pages showed the English form and the Spanish page had none at all.