Welding is one of the most popular methods used to join two pieces of metal together. However, for some applications, not all welding processes are suitable. Tack welding is an optimal solution for joining metal pieces when a large, strong joint is not required.
It is a fast, easy way to temporarily hold two pieces together before completing a more permanent weld. According to Statista, there are over more than 590 thousand welders and related occupations in the United States alone.
Tack welding is one of the most important processes they carry out. Let us take a look at what tack welding is in more detail – advantages, applications and techniques used.
What is Tack Welding?
Tack welding is an essential process in fabrication that is used to temporarily attach two pieces of metal. It is used to hold two parts in alignment while full welding is taking place.Tack welding is a form of spot welding and consists of a series of short welds at each location. The tack weld process holds the parts in place while more passes of welding are made at each joint.
Advantages of Tack Welding
- Fast, efficient and accurate: Tack welding is much faster than traditional welding, it is a lot easier to control, and it is far more accurate than hand welding.
- Reduction in welding distortions: Tack welding reduces the possibility of warping due to excessive heat.
- Reduction in weld spatter: With tack welding, weld spatter is significantly reduced, resulting in a tidier and less messy weld joint.
- Cost saving: With its speed and accuracy, tack welding helps to reduce the cost of production.
Types of Tack Welding
- Manual Tack Welding: Manual tacking is the most common type of tack welding.
It is a process in which a welder uses a welding torch to create a pool of molten material which is then used to fill the joint between two sheets or plates. This method is used for many types of metals.
- Machine Tack Welding: Machine tack welding is a process in which a machine is used to tack pieces together.
The machine is programmed to apply the precise amount of welding current and pressure to create a precise tack weld. This method is ideal for production lines as it is more efficient and accurate than manual tack welding.
- Robotic Tack Welding: Robotic tack welding is similar to machine tack welding, but it uses robots to do the welding instead of a machine. This method is more accurate and quicker than manual or machine tack welding, and it can be used to weld difficult-to-reach places.