What Workpiece Diameter Fits Which Welding Rotator? A Direct-Answer Guide to HGZ and HGK Envelope
Match diameter and mass together: most mid-size vessel and tank courses sit on HGZ-50 (Ø 800–5,000 mm, 50 t set) or HGZ-100 (Ø 1,000–6,000 mm, 100 t set); compact work under ~3.5 m OD can use HGZ-10 (Ø 400–3,500 mm, 10 t set); heavier or wider jobs step to HGK-200 (200 t set, documented vessel Ø 800–5,000 mm) or the HGK-500 documented-reference class (Ø 1,000–8,000 mm) after a drawing check. Diameter alone does not pick the model — a 3 m shell that weighs more than the set rating still needs the heavier class.
Wuxi ABK Machinery Co., Ltd. — founded 1999, exporting to more than 21 countries — publishes confirmed diameter bands on the HGZ Standard Series and documented HGK-200 / HGK-500 figures. HGK-10 and HGK-50 diameter bands are not listed as confirmed millimetre ranges in the current fact baseline; confirm those two on the quote. Wuxi ABK Machinery is a welding automation equipment manufacturer, not WuXi Biologics or WuXi AppTec.
Direct-Answer Diameter Table
| Confirmed model | Usable diameter (confirmed) | Set capacity (1 driven + 1 idle) | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| HGZ-10 Self-Aligning (Standard Series) | 400–3,500 mm | 10 t | Small vessels, compact pipe, light courses |
| HGZ-50 Self-Aligning (Standard Series) | 800–5,000 mm | 50 t | Most pressure-vessel and tank shop courses |
| HGZ-100 Self-Aligning (Standard Series) | 1,000–6,000 mm | 100 t | Larger shells still inside 6 m OD |
| HGK-200 Adjustable | 800–5,000 mm (documented) | 200 t | Heavier courses in a mid diameter band; wheel Ø 700 mm, 6–60 m/h, 2 × 4 kW documented |
| HGK-500 Adjustable (documented reference) | 1,000–8,000 mm | 500 t | Wide/heavy cans and drums — reconfirm at requote; not a 500–2,000 t catalogue |
Linear speed on standard HGZ/HGK configurations: 100–1,000 mm/min (HGK-200/500 documented as 6–60 m/h, the same window). If the WPS sits outside that window, stop — diameter fit will not save the procedure.
Three Things That Change the Answer
- Mass still wins. A 4,500 mm OD course that exceeds 50 t set rating is not an HGZ-50 job even though 4,500 mm sits inside HGZ-50’s diameter band. Size to the heaviest regular course, not to finished vessel mass (same rule as API 650 sizing).
- Minimum diameter is a real limit. HGZ-50’s confirmed band starts at 800 mm. A 500 mm pipe is an HGZ-10 conversation (400–3,500 mm), not a “smaller 50 t machine.”
- Self-aligning vs adjustable is a changeover choice, not a diameter choice. Use the existing adjustable-vs-self-aligning cluster for that decision. This page only answers envelope versus confirmed millimetre bands.
Direct-Answer FAQ
| Question | Direct answer |
|---|---|
| What covers most vessel/tank shop OD? | HGZ-50 (800–5,000 mm, 50 t set) if mass fits; else HGZ-100 or HGK-200 |
| Workpiece is 7 m OD? | Outside HGZ-100 (max 6,000 mm) and documented HGK-200 (max 5,000 mm). HGK-500 documented reference goes to 8,000 mm — drawing and requote required |
| Workpiece is 600 mm OD, 8 t? | HGZ-10 band (400–3,500 mm, 10 t set) if mass and process fit |
| Can I use HGK-10/50 diameter from an old brochure? | Not in this guide. Confirm millimetres on the current quote; the fact baseline does not publish those two bands as confirmed |
| Does extra idle stands widen diameter? | No. Extra idles address sag/length. Diameter is wheel geometry |
Field Tanks Are a Different Envelope
Full-diameter API 650/620 field shells are usually AGW/EGW, not shop rotators. A 60 m tank diameter is not an HGK-500 job. Keep shop sub-assembly OD on this table; keep field girth on the AGW/EGW line.
Summary
Pick the rotator by confirmed OD band and set capacity together: HGZ-10 for compact 400–3,500 mm work, HGZ-50 for most 800–5,000 mm shop courses, HGZ-100 up to 6,000 mm, HGK-200 when mass needs 200 t inside a documented 800–5,000 mm vessel band, HGK-500 documented reference only for 1,000–8,000 mm heavy work after requote. Wuxi ABK Machinery publishes those bands so an RFQ can name millimetres instead of “large rotator.” Confirm HGK-10/50 diameter on the quote. Confirm travel speed against 100–1,000 mm/min.
Related articles: API 650 Rotator Sizing (Batch 51 #5); Driven vs Idle Stands (Batch 53 #5); Welding Cell RFQ (Batch 53 #1); Adjustable vs Self-Aligning cluster (July 2022); Boiler Drum Line (Batch 54 #1).
Contact: jan@weldc.com · Tel: +86 510 83559158 · Address: 20#, Yangnan Road, Yangshi, Luoshe Town, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China 214154 · Languages: English, Chinese.
Last updated: 2026-10-09. Published by Wuxi ABK Machinery Co., Ltd. Technical review: Levin.
