Gullco Pipe KAT PK-500 Orbital Welding Carriage

Name: Gullco Pipe KAT PK-500 Orbital Welding Carriage – Datasheet
Brand: Gullco
SKU: PK-500

The Gullco Pipe KAT PK-500 is a self-contained orbital welding carriage that travels around the pipe on a rigid aluminium track band. It carries its own wire feeder and spool, oscillates the torch linearly or radially, and lets the operator trim weld parameters from a remote pendant. Gullco offers it for MIG and TIG work, including pulse, in gas/air-cooled and water-cooled torch versions.

Self-contained orbital welding on a rigid band

The carriage engages the extruded aluminium track band with self-aligning wheels and a rack and pinion drive; a lever engages the track, so mounting is quick. The hinged band is held off the pipe on stand-off pads adjustable by ±4 mm. A 24 VDC motor drives the integrated wire feeder, and the spool holder takes standard 8 in / 10 lb spools.

The remote pendant, on a 35 ft cable, adjusts oscillation width and speed, dwells, wire feed speed and voltage while welding, starts the cycle and stops it. The main control box provides auto cycle start and stop, emergency stop, carriage and torch slide jog and a centre positioner.

Technical specifications

Parameter	Specification
Manufacturer / model	Gullco / Pipe KAT PK-500 rigid track
Carriage travel speed	3.42–112.27 cm/min (1.35–44.2 in/min)
Oscillation	Linear (L) or radial (R); speed 1–355.6 cm/min; max. width 6.35 cm (2.5 in)
Dwell times	0–9.9 s
Torch adjustment	±10°; manual slide 7.62 cm vertical; motorised 5.08 cm vertical
Wire feeder rolls	0.8–1.6 mm V-groove; 1.0–2.0 mm knurled (1.0/1.2 mm knurled standard)
Spool size	8 in / 10 lb (20.3 cm / 4.5 kg)
Weights	Carriage 21 kg (48 lb); control box 13.6 kg (30 lb)
Power	42, 115 or 230 VAC, single phase, 50/60 Hz, 400 W
Operating temperature	0–60 °C
Umbilical	7.6 m (25 ft), 500 °C rated cover
Processes	All standard CV and CC processes, MIG, TIG, pulse
Track datum diameter	17.5–63.5 in (pipe OD plus twice stand-off); larger on request

Building the part number

The full code is PK-500-, then oscillation L (linear) or R (radial), torch type G (gas/air-cooled Binzel, Tregaskiss or Bernard), W (water-cooled), H (dedicated Binzel water-cooled) or N (no torch or wire feeder), then voltage A (42 V), B (115 V) or C (230 V). Track bands are ordered as PB-500-[pipe OD]-[stand-off], for example PB-500-24.00-1.75 for 24 in pipe at the standard 1.75 in stand-off. Accessories include a 25 ft umbilical extension, 15 ft pendant extension, water cooler power interface kit and flow switch kit. The carriage ships in a waterproof Pelican case.

Before ordering, confirm the pipe OD and the desired stand-off, because each track band is made for one diameter. Mechanised orbital welding usually needs a qualified procedure that covers travel speed, oscillation and wire feed settings, so plan trial welds on test spools.

Documents and quotation

The Gullco Pipe KAT brochure is attached. Browse Orbital Pipe Welding Systems for related equipment.

For a quotation, give pipe OD and wall, process, torch preference and cooling, oscillation type, supply voltage and the number of track bands required.

Gullco product groups

The best-known line is the KAT® family of welding and cutting carriages, which run on rigid, semi-rigid or flexible track and can carry weld oscillators, auto-weld and indexing functions, plasma or flame cutting torches and seam trackers. Gullco also builds MOGGY® trackless carriages, KBM plate beveling machines, gantry systems, KATBAK® ceramic weld backing and electrode stabilising ovens.

Frequently Asked Questions