A gas lens replaces the collet body that is standard in most TIG torches, and in conjunction with a collet, it helps to hold the tungsten in place and creates the electrical contact necessary for proper current transfer. It also serves a much more important function, it improves shielding gas coverage and joint accessibility. TIG torch standard gas lenses are available in a range of sizes to suit various tungsten diameters.
Gas lenses reduce shielding gas turbulence and provide longer, undisturbed laminar flow of the gas to the weld pool.
The gas lens also allows the welder to move the nozzle further away from the joint and extend the tungsten electrode past the nozzle by one inch or more.
The additional electrode extension provides better visibility of the joint and arc, this can improve a welder's ability to lay a proper weld in critical applications and harder to reach areas such as "T", "K" and "Y" joints.
In some applications a gas lens can also reduce shielding gas consumption.
