Welding is an essential component of the manufacturing industry, and spool guns are becoming an increasingly important tool in this field. In fact, according to the American Welding Society, 80% of all aluminum welding is now done with spool guns. These guns are designed to help welders work more quickly and efficiently, and they are especially useful when welding aluminum and steel.
But what exactly is a spool gun, and what is it used for in welding? In this article, we’ll discuss the definition of a spool gun, the types of welding it is used for, and the benefits it provides.
Get ready to expand your welding knowledge!
What Is A Spool Gun Used For In Welding?
Welding is a process of joining materials, usually metals or thermoplastics by using high heat to melt a portion of the materials. A spool gun is an accessory used in welding and helps in running a welding wire from a spool of wire.It is a specialized device that helps in controlling the wire feed and reducing wear-and-tear of the welding wire. This is an especially beneficial addition for aluminum welding, when using small spools of wire.
How Does a Spool Gun Work?
A spool gun has different components that in combination deliver a solid welding operation.It comprises of a motor, a drive wheel, and a guide tube. In this gun, the motor serves for driving the wire, the drive wheel serves for maintaining a consistent tension as the wire exits, and the guide tube helps in making sure that the wire is directed accurately. The device has to be connected to a power supply to ensure it works well.
Advantages Of Using a Spool Gun
- Easy Feed Control: A spool gun offers the user an easy control over the welding wire feed. This allows the user to work with Aluminum more easily, as aluminum needs pure wire feed at a consistent speed.
- Reduces Wear And Tear: A spool gun also reduces the wear and tear of the welding wire as it does not require grinding of edges.
It also allows for precision welding, thus reducing wastage of welding wire to some extent.
- More Flexibility For Projects: A spool gun is usually lightweight and helps in achieving better accuracy, thus allowing for more flexibility for larger projects.
Disadvantages Of Using a Spool Gun
- Additional Cost: A spool gun is usually an additional cost and may be an expensive item on a budget.
- Installation Trouble: It may be a bit difficult to install the gun, especially if it is the first time installing it. It may also need some accessories depending on the type of gun.