— Flush weld contour
Flush weld contour · Soldadura en plano · ISO 1101 + ASME Y14.5
Example in plan
How to interpret it
On the drawing, “△ with flat (flush) contour” states a flush weld contour requirement.
What controls
Contour symbol added to the weld symbol requiring the weld face to finish flush with the surface of the joined parts. It almost always implies a subsequent mechanical finishing operation, because the weld as deposited has reinforcement. It may be accompanied by the finishing method designation. Flush does not mean 'looks nice': it is a geometric or functional requirement, typical of surfaces that must slide, bear, seal or not trap dirt.
How to verify
Straightedge or gauge placed across the weld to check that no step or dip remains, complemented by feel on long runs. If the drawing gives a flushness tolerance or a roughness for that face, it is checked with a dial indicator or roughness tester. After grinding, a surface defect inspection is advisable, because the finishing can expose pores that were previously covered by the reinforcement.
Common mistakes when interpreting it
- Reading the contour symbol as an aesthetic preference rather than a requirement with an associated operation.
- Grinding across the weld, leaving transverse grooves that act as stress raisers.
- Grinding flush to cover up defects: the finishing can uncover porosity, and that is a real finding, not a grinding problem.
How to get it in the workshop / if it comes out of tolerance
Count the finishing as a manufacturing operation with its own time and tooling, not as a final touch-up. When grinding, the risk is going too far and thinning the base material or leaving marks across the direction of load; work along the weld and finish with a fine grit. On hardenable steels, the heat from grinding can harden the area: do not force the wheel.
If a dip appears when grinding flush, the weld was short of material: deposit more weld and grind again, do not fill with body filler. If pores appear when grinding, the problem is in the weld and it must be gouged out and rewelded. If the base material has been thinned by over-grinding, measure it against the minimum thickness before accepting it.
Related symbols
Other symbols in Flat welding
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