Welding fabrication is an essential process used on building projects, developing structures and even public art. It holds a special place in industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and military. In fact, this process has been around since the 1800s, and it has continued to develop and evolve to the system we know and use today.
Did you know that there are over 500 different types of welding processes? And on average, welding fabrication makes up over 18% of the global production industry and is used on over 800 million metric tons of steel worldwide each year.
Through this article, we will explore the basics of what welding fabrication is, how it works and its benefits.
What Is Welding Fabrication?
Welding Fabrication is a process of joining two or more pieces of metal together by applying heat, pressure and other techniques.This process can be done manually through the use of welding machines and tools or by automated processes with robotic welding machines. In welding fabrication, the welded joint can be composed of many different materials including various metals, alloys, and plastics. Welding Fabrication offers many advantages including:
- Strength: Welded joints are extremely strong and durable, making them ideal for use in manufacturing, construction, and other industries where strength and durability are essential requirements.
- Accuracy: Because the welding process is automated, it is far more precise than manual welding, which can be difficult to master.
- Economy: Automated welding fabrication processes are far more efficient and cost-effective than manual welding methods.
Applications of Welding Fabrication
Welding Fabrication is widely used in many industries and applications.It is most commonly used in the automotive and aerospace industries, where it is used extensively to assemble and shape components together. Welding fabrication can also be used to construct structures, such as bridges and buildings, as well as to create and repair machinery parts.
Other uses of welding fabrication include anything from creating furniture, to welding sculptures, to welding tanks and ships.
Types of Welding Fabrication
The types of welding fabrication processes depend on the type of material being welded.Common welding techniques include:
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW): Also known as MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding, GMAW is a semi-automatic process in which a flux-cored wire or solid wire electrode is fed through the welding gun and an arc is created between the two metals.
- Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW): Known as stick welding, SMAW is an older, more basic technique that uses rods or electrodes made of filler metal.
- Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW): This process is similar to GMAW, but it uses a flux-cored electrode instead of a solid wire.
- Submerged Arc Welding (SAW): This process is most commonly used for thick metals in which the arc is shielded by a welding flux, which is generally stored in a submerged form.