Types of Welding

Posted on by

Stick
TIG
MIG
FCAW
You can find multiple names used for the same process in welding simply because they are becoming commonly accepted slang terms. Regardless of everything you refer to it as, so long as you understand those are the same. I want to explain.

Stick welding is really a slang term for “Shielded Metal Arc Welding” and is also commonly abbreviated, or known, as “SMAW”. The slang term comes from the rod which is used which is seems like a stick. It is a process that runs on the power supply that creates constant amperage to produce an arc. This kind of welder works on the rod, or electrode, metallic with a flux coating on the outside of that protects the weld area through the air even though the rod is burning. SMAW is mostly employed in area of since it is a sensible welding procedure that is affordable, works well of many metals, and allows for welding thick materials. This will make it a great joining process for many industrial construction needs. SMAW can be the standard type of welding that’s taught within the most schools as foundation to learning other types of metal joining processes.

TIG welding, or TIG, is surely an abbreviation for “Tungsten Inert Gas” nonetheless its proper name is “Gas Tungsten Arc Welding” commonly abbreviated and termed as “GTAW”. Back in the day, previously even be called “HeliArc”. GTAW is a joining technology which utilizes a relentless current energy the same as Stick welding. What changes will be the way filler metal is deposited to the joint. TIG uses a torch that has a part of tungsten to generate an arc. The torch also offers shielding gas flowing through it to protect the weld area from air. Characteristics of tungsten allow arc temperatures to achieve over 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way TIG works could be that the arc is done in addition to a filler metal is put into the joint. Filler metals just for this process are available in wire form and therefore are simply cut to length. One of the most commonly used shielding gas is Argon, which is used for welding a lot more than 90 % of metals. TIG welding is utilized for welding exotic metals or anywhere that needs excellent welds. This process is amongst the roughest kinds of welding to find out.

MIG welding, or MIG, can be an abbreviation for “Metal Inert Gas” which is more formally called “Gas Metal Arc Welding” or “GMAW”. The word MIG emanates from the original shielding gasses used that were the inert, or Nobel, gasses. Today the gases used vary, hence the name has officially been changed to “Gas Metal Arc Welding”. MIG welding will be the slang term that is commonly accepted. Additionally it is referred to as “Wire Wheel Welding”. This technique utilizes a wire feed to secure solid filler wire to the weld joint. The wire feed is attached to a continuing voltage power source that creates the arc to melt the wire if this hits the weld joint. Prior to wire creates an arc there must be a shielding gas feed with the system. MIG welding is completed through a MIG gun that mixes the wire, electricity and shielding gasses all concurrently. The MIG gun carries a trigger that, once squeezed, starts the metal joining process. This process is recognized as semi-automatic for the reason that filler metal is continuously feed to the weld joint. This metal joining process is typically found in factories where high production is necessary. MIG is straightforward to work but creating the equipment could be troublesome to get a less experienced operator.

FCAW, or “Flux Cored Arc Welding”, is technically considered yet another kind of welding process. The reality is that FCAW is really a different kind of electrode or filler wire utilized in a MIG welding machine. The electrode can be a hollow tube which has flux from the center. What this may is let the electrode to weld without needing an external shielding gas. There’s two varieties of electrodes utilized in FCAW; self shielding and dual shielding. Self is surely an electrode that will not need any shielding gas. It is extremely just like a Stick welding electrode turned thoroughly. What this will is allow welding in windy conditions. The down side of MIG welding is the fact that wind or drafts cause welding defects. A self shielding FCAW electrode solves this difficulty. Dual shielding electrodes need shielding gas to work properly. The benefit of this kind of electrode is the level of weld it might deposit. FCAW is usually found in shipyards or anywhere that requires a great deal of welding being done on thick metals.

There are lots of more different aspects of welding which can be used. Examples include:

Oxy Acetylene
Lasers
Brazing
Soldering
Plasma
SAW or “Submerged Arc Welding”
Friction
Plastic
Electron Beam
Explosive
Thermite
Forge
Ultra Sonic
And also the list continues on! In the end one of the most popular processes are Stick, TIG, MIG and FCAW. These are the basic processes that have become popular since they’re what industry needs. They produce welds starting from mass production to x-ray quality.

For more information about robotic welding have a look at our new internet page.