AIST Steel Intern Scholarship
Monserrat Torres Sierra
This summer, I worked in the galvanizing area, in the case of Ternium, we work with a continuous hot dip galvanizing line, this implies that tons of steel sheets are galvanized per hour, for this we need a controlled process and in which those failures that prevent continuity are not perceptible. To ensure line continuity, the sheet metal coils are fed one after the other and joined by welding, the galvanizing line should ideally not be stopped to reload another coil. Since the weld, which provides continuity, must remain in optimum condition throughout the galvanizing line, the weld must be able to withstand the bending stresses to which it is subjected throughout the process. The problem is that the weld is not always of good quality and can fail, not only at the beginning of the operation, but also in crucial parts such as the furnace, where a weld fracture implies production losses of up to 48 hours.
In order to obtain a good, welded joint, good operating conditions are needed, these conditions are not always followed; therefore, the purpose of the project that I carried out together with my tutor, Oliver Antonio. This project was focused on the resolution of problems that could be caused in the welding area, that is to detect those existing problems and propose an appropriate solution, for this I was asked to use as a support tool, the troubleshooting methodology, which consists of finding the possible cause or causes of a problem through trial and error. Also, it mentions that each problem can have more than one cause and furthermore that for each problem encountered, a solution needs to be presented. In this way, flow charts were developed that, in conjunction with troubleshooting, are intended to show the user the proper way to detect the fault occurring in the process quickly and efficiently and provide an adequate resolution to the guidelines already established by the company.
Finally, I had the opportunity to present the results of my project, together with my colleagues. I am confident that the implementation of this project can provide a positive change in the welding operating systems and thus lead to an improvement in the welding process. I am fully satisfied with my stay as a steel intern at Ternium México in Monterrey, N.L., Mexico. I am grateful to AIST for having given me this opportunity, since the activities developed during my stay have meant considerable personal and professional growth.