Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)

8 Different Types of Electric Arc Welding Methods

Summary

There are different types of electric arc welding processes because they are one of the most popular welding methods. Arc welding are methods that uses an electrode to conduct current through a workpiece to fuse two pieces.

They are widely used in industries due to their versatility, and reliability because of their ability to create strong bonds between two metal parts.

Different kinds of electric arc welding are classified as consumable and non-consumable electrodes. The consumable electrode arc welding is MIG, SMAW, ESW, and SAW. while the non-consumable electrode types are TIG and PAW. Learn about electric arc welding here!

Now, let’s go deep to explain the various kinds of electric arc welding!

Contents

Types of electric arc welding

Consumable electrodes:

#1 Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG)

These types of arc welding are also known as gas metal arc welding (GMAW). It uses a shielding gas to protect the base metals from defilement.

Metal inert gas welding (MIG)

#2 Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)

These types are also known as manual metal arc welding (MMA or MMAW), flux shielded arc, or stick welding. it is achieved by striking the arc between the metal rod (electrode flux coated) and the workpiece.

The metal rod and workpiece joint surface melt and form a pool. These two-contact form gas and slag, helping to protect the weld pool from the surrounding atmosphere. That is why this perfect for joining ferrous and nonferrous metals with a range of material thickness in all positions

Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)

#3 Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)

This arc welding serves the alternative purpose of SMAW, FCAM using a continuous feed of consumable flux core electrode and a constant voltage power supply. It helps in providing constant arc length. These types of arc welding can use a shielding gas or gas created by the flux to provide protection from contamination.

Flux core arc welding (FCAW)

 

#4 Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)

This process also uses continuous-fed consumable electrodes and a blanket of fusible flux. It becomes conductive when molten provides a current path between the parts and the current and electrode. Flux also prevents spatter and sparks while suppressing fumes and ultraviolet radiation.

Submerged arc welding (SAW)

 

#5 Electro-slag Welding (ESW)

These types of arc welding are welding is used to vertically weld a thick plate above 25mm in a single. It works on an electric arc before flux helps to extinguish the arc. This flux melts immediately after the wire consumable is fed into the molten pool. It creates a molten slag on top of the pool.

Electro-slag welding (ESW)

 

#6 Stud Arc Welding (SW)

This arc welding process is similar to flash welding, it is used to join nuts or fasteners with a flange and nubs that melt in order to produce the joint to another meal piece.

Non-consumable Electrode Methods:

#7 Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG)

This consumable arc welding is known as gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). It uses a tungsten electrode to create the arc and inert shielding gas to protect the weld and molten pool against atmospheric contamination.

Tungsten inert gas welding (TIG) 

 

#8 Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)

Plasma arc welding is similar to TIG welding. it uses an electric arc of a non-consumable electrode and an anode, they are placed within the body of the torch. The plasma is obtained from the electric arc. This arc is also used to ionize the gas in the torch, which is pushed through a fine borehole in the anode to reach the base metal. This separates the plasma from the shielding gas.

Plasma arc welding (PAW) 

 

Learn about safety precaution in arc welding here!

That is all for this article, where the various types of electric arc welding are discussed. I hope you enjoyed the reading, if so, kindly share with other students. Thanks for reading, see you next time!


Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *