These days, everyone thinks that working with metal is a risky job with a lot of dangers. However, no one can deny the interesting experience that the welders have. They are interested in the world of metals transformation by the effects of the welding process.
As the demands for welding are increasing, we can see a lot types of welding appearing and they have some requirements upon the users about skills and knowledge, but what are those? This post will tell you about it.
Let’s check it out.
What is welding?
Welding is a process in which the welder joins two pieces of metal together by applying extreme heat and sometimes the addition of metal and gases.
How Many Types Of Welding Methods Are There?
We can see a countless number of welding methods such as metal inert gas (MIG), shielded gas, tungsten inert gas (TIG) and electric arc.
4 Popular Types Of Welding
By researching and gathering information, here we have the top 4 most popular types of welding. Let’s see what are they.
1 – Shielded Metal Arc Welding
Definition
The first type we mention today is Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), or Manual Metal Arc Welding (MMAW). It may sound scientific, but when we mention stick welding, you may realize that this is a popular welding method. The welder consumes the electrode covered with flux to lay the weld.
Stick welding uses the power supply to join the metals thanks to an electric arc formed by the electric current.
Equipment
To lay the weld, we need a power supply and an electrode.
2 – Gas Metal Arc Welding
Definition
Gas Metal Arc Welding, also known as metal inert gas welding, is a welding process in which an electrode arc formed by a consumable MIG wire electrode. The metals are heated to melt and then joined together.
With this welding type, atmosphere contamination is an issue, so we need to feed shielding gas through the welding gun.
Equipment
This method requires a welding gun and wire feed unit, tool style, power supply, electrode, shielding gas, and a 3D printing working based on GMAW.
3 – Flux Cored Arc Welding
Definition
Flux-cored Arc Welding is a semi-automatic welding process which requires a tubular electrode. When choosing this method, don’t remember to feed that electrode continuously. The process usually contains a flux and a constant-current welding power supply or a constant-voltage.
Unlike the above method, this one does not need shielding gas due to the strong protection from the atmosphere of Flux, although we still see the application of that gas somewhere. Also, this welding process has impressive speed. For this reason, we can see this process a lot in the construction sites.
Equipment
This method requires an electrode, flux, a constant-voltage or a constant-current welding power supply, and shielding gas (optional).
4 – Gas Tungsten Arc Gas Welding
Definition
Gas Tungsten Arc Gas Welding (GTAW), or tungsten inert gas (TIG), is a high-quality process that lays the weld with the application of a non-consumable tungsten electrode. We don’t need to concern about the atmosphere contamination thanks to the application of shielding inert gas, and optionally a filler metal.
Gas Tungsten Arc Gas Welding is commonly used for stainless steel and non-ferrous metals (aluminum, magnesium, and so on) welding, thus requiring advanced skills to master. As a result, this process can meet the requirement coming from those conditions that require high speed such as construction site as we need more time to complete the sections.
Equipment
The required equipment for this welding method is welding torch, power supply, electrode, and shielding gas.
The bottom line
After you read this article, I hope that you can gain more information about the welding process, the wide variety of welding types, and the top 4 popular welding methods. Have a nice day and enjoy this exciting activity.