How to Choose Between Water Cooling and Air Cooling for a Welding Torch?

Welding, also known as fusion welding, is a manufacturing process and technology that joins metals or other thermoplastic materials such as plastics by heating, high temperature, or high pressure. The welding torch performs the welding operation, and to prevent the torch from overheating, it needs to be cooled. There are two cooling methods: air cooling and water cooling.

Water Cooling

Water-cooled welding torches use circulating water to cool the torch. A water circulation system delivers coolant to the heating element in the torch neck, absorbs the heat, and then returns it to the water tank for further cooling. Water-cooled welding torches offer higher power and are suitable for continuous welding of large, thick metal parts; they are also highly efficient, achieving 100% duty cycle. They are durable and have excellent heat dissipation. However, water-cooled welding torches are generally more expensive than air-cooled welding torches.

Air Cooling

Low-temperature gas is injected from the rear of the welding torch. The gas is expelled from the nozzle, carrying away the heat generated during welding and simultaneously cooling the torch head. Lighter air-cooled welding torches are suitable for non-continuous welding of thin parts with low current and low welding intensity. They feature high precision and a small heat-affected zone. However, air-cooled welding torches are not suitable for high currents and are better suited for low-current welding.

How to Choose

I. Price

Water-cooled welding torches are on average about 50% more expensive than air-cooled torches. Furthermore, installing a water-cooling system requires additional expenses, and the welding torch, being a consumable part, is also part of the ongoing operating costs.

II. Welding Current

Generally, when the welding current is less than 180A and the welding is non-continuous, an air-cooled welding torch can be chosen. The heat generated by the current during robotic welding is cooled by air convection around the torch, preventing damage to the nozzle due to overheating. However, when the welding current exceeds 180A, the heat generated by the large current cannot be quickly cooled by air convection around the welding torch. In this case, a water-cooled welding torch can be used, which uses a circulating water system to rapidly cool the torch. Furthermore, high-power industrial tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding torches employ more complex water-cooled designs. Water cooling reduces wear on vulnerable components such as the tungsten electrode, resulting in a more stable arc column. This is suitable for welding thicker workpieces and for continuous high-current welding.

Currently, JUGAO primarily uses two types of air-cooled welding torches: the JUGAO torch and the Global torch. The JUGAO torch is independently developed and manufactured by JUGAO, employing high-strength, torsion-resistant, and wear-resistant cables with high-quality copper wire cores, and possesses a patented anti-collision technology. Its anti-collision device is fast and offers high repeatability. The Global torch brand is a well-known Chinese brand, having passed ISO-90014-2000 international quality certification and national CCC certification, meeting most welding needs.

When welding large, thick metal parts, use water cooling to cool the welding torch. Welding torches from brands such as JUGAO, Global, Telma, and Apollo are available. Alternatively, customers can choose a specific brand of welding torch according to their needs.

JUGAO, a leading industrial robot manufacturer in China, provides customers with a comprehensive range of robot products to help them improve productivity and product quality. By leveraging advanced technology, JUGAO truly empowers its clients to achieve intelligent transformation and upgrading.