![\"Stick](\"https:\/\/www.westermans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/Stick-welding-sml.jpg\")
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A helpful yet simple explanation to the 3 main arc welding processes to help you decide what you need before you buy any welding equipment.<\/p>\n
Other name: Shielded Metal Arc Welding
Abbreviations: SMAW, FCAW, MMA<\/p>\n
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A manual welding process, the stick welding<\/a> process uses an electric current to form an electric arc, between the flux covered stick rod and the metals to be joined. Although the original welding process was founded in 1881, stick welding still has it’s advantages today. It is a versatile and simple process, leading to it’s popularity in the maintenance and repair sector. Equipment and consumable costs are also low and widely available, which makes it a popular choice for small businesses and amateurs alike.<\/p>\n However disadvantages include quality problems such as weld spatter, porosity issues, poor fusion, shallow penetration and cracking – hence this basic process does not have a place in a lot of welding applications requiring the high standards of today. Like all welding processes, standard health and safety practise such as PPE and fume extraction<\/a> are required for operation. Other name: Gas Metal Arc Welding The process uses a shielding gas along the wire<\/strong> electrode, which heats up the two metals to be joined. The shielding gas protects the weld from atmospheric contamination, as the electric arc heats the wire to form the weld pool joining the material. This method most popularly uses a constant voltage and direct-current power source, however constant current and alternating current can be used and are beneficial for certain applications. Equipment required to weld using the MIG process is an appropriate power source supply (referring to the above four methods to know what functions are required), welding gun and wire feed unit, electrode (metal alloy wire), shielding gas supply and a correct earth, regulator and mains supply.<\/p>\n
This is done by means of a power source<\/a>, via either alternating current or direct current.
The coating of flux on the electrode then disintegrates, with the vapours given off acting as a shielding gas and a slag is formed to act as protection for the weld joint.
This process is often used in the maintenance and repair industry, construction of steel structures and in industrial fabrication<\/strong> to weld iron and steel mainly.
However the SMAW process is often a good choice for materials like aluminium, nickel and copper. FCAW (flux cord arc welding) was developed as an alternative to stick welding, the semi-automatic arc weld is often used in construction projects due to high-speed welding and portability.<\/p>\nAdvantages.<\/h3>\n
Disadvantages.<\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nMIG Welding<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Abbreviations: MIG or MAG or GMAW<\/p>\n![\"MIG](\"https:\/\/www.westermans.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/MIG-Welding-Wire-Sml.jpg\")
Read below or skip straight to the video!<\/p>\nOverview.<\/h3>\n
It has four primary methods of metal transfer: globular, short-circuiting, spray and pulsed-spray, each having their own properties and advantages\/limitations.<\/p>\n\n
Leading to better quality welds and less spatter, with welding in all positions also possible.
However, this is done at a much slower rate, it is also critical to input parameters correctly to ensure a stable arc.
Short-circuit is not recommended for thicker materials as it can result in a lack of fusion and penetration due to lower arc energy. As with globular this process can only be used with ferrous metals.<\/li>\n
A high quality weld finish and elimination of spatter is achieved by the weld electrode metal being rapidly passed along the stable electric arc, from the electrode to the workpiece.
Due to the large weld pool produced by the high current and voltage required to complete the process, it is mostly suitable for thicker material above 6.4mm and also limits usage to flat and horizontal welding positions mainly.
Generally this process is not practical for root pass welds. Smaller electrodes and lower heat inputs can increase the versatility of the process.<\/li>\n
It is also suitable for welding nearly all metals, it is one of the most versatile welding processes. However a special power source with pulse MIG capabilities<\/a> is required and the process requires the main shielding gas to be argon with a low concentration of CO2.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nEquipment.<\/h3>\n