Welding is an Industries’ most important job. Not only is it a key tool for professional welders, it is also responsible for ensuring the safety, quality and profitability of many operations. With more than 200 types of welding processes, it can be confusing to know which process should be used for which job.
Five of the most common welding processes are used around the world in industries from automotive to aerospace – shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux-cored arc welding (FCAW), gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), and plasma arc welding (PAW). In 2019, over a trillion dollars in welding-related products were sold worldwide and welding contributed to more than 407 thousand job positions in the US alone.
So, let’s take a closer look at some of the details of each type of welding, and then discuss the different applications where one or more of these processes may be used.
What Kind of Welding is There?
Welding is a process of assembling pieces of materials by melting and fusing them together to form a single piece. Welding is used in a wide variety of industries and areas, ranging from construction and engineering to art and jewelry making.Different types of welding exist that differ in the method used to heat and melt the pieces.
Types of Welding
- Oxy-fuel Welding (OFW): This is one of the oldest and most commonly used type of welding.
It is used to join metals of varying thickness. Oxy-fuel welding involves burning oxygen and fuel gas such as acetylene, propane, or propylene, in order to create an intense heat that is used to melt the pieces and fuse them together.
- Arc Welding: Arc welding is the most common type of welding used by welders. This method uses an electric arc between the welding rod and the base material to create intense heat, which is used to melt the pieces and fuse them together. Arc welding is used in different industries, including construction, aerospace, and automotive.
- Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW): GMAW is a type of welding that uses an electric arc and a shielding gas to weld metals together, such as steel and aluminum. A welding rod consisting of a filler material is used to create an arc between the base material and the filler material.
The resulting heat melts both the filler material and the base material, which is then fused together as it cools.
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW): GTAW is a type of welding that uses an electric arc to heat the material being welded. Unlike arc welding, GTAW does not need a shielding gas and instead relies on the tungsten electrode to provide the necessary shielding.
The tungsten electrode is positioned between the base material and the filler material, creating an intense heat between them that melts both the base material and the filler material and fuses them together as it cools.
- Resistance Welding: Resistance welding is a type of welding that uses electric current to heat the pieces of metal and fuse them together. The pieces are heated by passing an electric current through them, which creates resistance and generates heat. This heat is used to melt the pieces and fuse them together, creating a strong bond.
- Friction Welding: Friction welding is a type of welding that uses heat generated from the rapid rubbing of two pieces of metal together. This heat is used to melt the pieces and fuse them together. Friction welding is used in a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, and construction