Welding Definition and Types

Welding Definition and Types – The Ultimate Guide To Various Welding Types

• Arc Welding
• Electroslag (ESW) Welding
• Flux Cored Welding
• Gas Metal Arc Welding
• Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
• Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding
• Plasma Arc Welding
• Shielded Metal Arc Welding
• Submerged Arc Welding
• Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding

Definition of Welding

Welding has been defined as being a process where multiple pieces of thermoplastics or metal are fastened together using pressure and heat. This process of applying heat will soften the metal and then allows it to be pressed together as a joint area. The concept of welding was developed in the metal ages, although it didn’t form into the welding process like today until around the 19^th century.

Before this was a process called forge welding where two metal pieces were joined together. Forge welding happens using a flame to heat the metal to a high temperature and then hammering the pieces together until they were a single piece. This method was eventually replaced around the industrial revolution era. Gas and electric flame heating methods were much faster and safer for welders.

Almost every object that has been made that has made society what it is today was created by a welded construction tool or has been welded. It is because of this a welder has multiple areas to be employed in, and most welders will often specialize auto or pipe welding while others will deal with machinery.

There are endless possibilities for a welder seeing how welding is able to be done in various locations such as underwater, but not all welding forms are the same. Some welders will use electric while others will use gas and the newest welding forms will use a laser.

Different Types of Welding

The process of welding that will be used is going to based on various factors, but the thickness and form of the materials is often a deciding factor for which welding method will be best. Tungsten Inert Gas, Submerged Arc, Shielded Metal Arc, Plasma Arc, Metal Inert Gas, Gas Tungsten Arc, Gas Metal Arc, Flux Cored, Electroslag, and Arc are the most used welding method types.

Arc Welding

Arc Welding is a very popular type of welding because of the low cost for the process. The process starts with a device that uses and electrical current. This device can vary from process to process, but it will always use an electrical current to go through the materials without the device, and it is considered to be non-conductive. The reason that it is called arc welding is because the electrical current that is done between the device and the materials when being welded. The first arc welding was invented in 1802 and today there are many subcategories of arc welding.

Electroslag (ESW) Welding

This type of welding practice stated in the 1950s. Electroslag welding is a fast welding process that is used to join large materials like steel plates. These materials are then arranged within a vertical position, seeing how the electroslag weld was meant to weld at a angle without causing distortion. The name electroslag came from the water filled copper areas in the device which were included and designed to prevent melted slag from getting into other areas when it liquified.

Flux Cored Welding

This welding process made and started being used during the early 1950s. It had a main purpose of providing another option for stick welding. This process is used for a project that needs to have fast speeds. Most construction workers will use this process on the job because of the speed and the ability to use this welding process in different situations on various materials.

Gas Metal Arc Welding

Gas Metal Arc Welding process was made in the 1940s and is an automatic welding process. This method uses a welding gun which will automatically feed the weld metal through the gun to be used. The weld gun also distributes a protective gas shield from the natural elements. This process saves time and is best for large welding projects. It was originally made to use with aluminum. Today, this method is mainly used by welders who work with auto repair and manufacturing.

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding

This welding process is a very time consuming and difficult welding process that is used today. This is due to the fact that it needs a lot of skill and focus because of the small areas that are located between the material used and arc of the flame. Normally small strips of metal that don’t contain a lot of iron will be welded using this type of process. Even though it’s hard, it does produce high quality, strong welds whenever it is done right. Welders who are making bicycles or aircrafts in the military and commercial instances will this type of welding while other types of welders will not have to deal with this process. There have been hardly any changes made Since its release in 1941.

Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding

MIG welding is a welding process that will use gas to shield the weld metal. The gas will keep the metal from being affected by natural elements like oxygen. This allows the welder to operate at a continuous rate which makes the process quick. Using this equipment doesn’t need a lot of skill by a welder, however, the equipment that is being used can only be used inside because of the gas during the whole process of welding. Metal Inert Gas Welding was originally made in the 1940s, but it has went under a lot of upgrades until it became perfect in the 1960s.

Plasma Arc Welding

Plasma Arc welding is similar to Gas Tungsten Arc Welding. The two are often compared because they work in similar fashion, only they use different torch types. This method was created in 1954, however it is still being improved today. Plasma Arc Welding also needs more concentration than the Gas Tungsten Arc Welding because of the precision of the weld and the smaller arc. For plasma welding, the electrical current is passed through a small nozzle which will pass through the protective gas which gives extreme accuracy when welding. Plasma arc weldingis able to heat metals to a very high temperature which can cause a deeper weld. Just like gas tungsten arc welding, this process is normally used in aircraft manufacturing.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding

This type of welding is also called stick welding. This process is the most popular and most used process in welding today. The first form of this process was made in 1938, but the equipment and process are still going through upgrades. It is a manual type of welding process that is inexpensive and simple to use. The results aren’t as neat as other methods and the molten splatter is a common thing. Stick welding is mostly used by construction welders who are working steel structures and other industries that need welding but don’t have a big budget.

Submerged Arc Welding

This process can only be used on items that have high iron contents like stainless steel. The device that is used can be semi-automatic or automatic which makes it quick. While it is quick, the electrical art has to be covered by flux in order to protect the metal from the atmosphere during welding. This cover will also prevent welding splatter which makes it safer for welders than other forms. This process was named after the need to be submerged in a flux cover.

Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding

TIG welding is very similar to MIG welding. The difference is that TIG will use a tungsten current form while MIG uses metal electrode. Because of TIG using tungsten, it needs an additional filler inside of the welding device as tungsten doesn’t melt in the welding process. Tungsten is very unique, and it can be heated at a much higher temperature before it melts than other metals. TIG Welding is normally used in industries that deal with stainless steel.