Arc Welding

History of Arc Welding

 Arc welding dates back to the late 1800’s.
 First developed following the invention of
AC electricity.
 Pioneered when a man was welding with a
bare metal rod on iron, the sparks from
the welding caught a stack of newspapers
on fire near him and while welding, he
noticed that his welds started looking a lot
better. The reason for this was the smoke
took the oxygen out of his welding
environment and decreased porosity.
 What is Arc Welding?
 Arc welding uses a welding power
supply to create an electric arc between an
electrode and the base material to melt the
metals at the welding point.
 They can use either direct (DC) or
alternating (AC) current, and consumable
or non-consumable electrodes.
 The welding region is sometimes
protected by some type of inert gas, known
as a shielding gas, and/or an evaporating
filler material.
 What is Arc Welding?
 The fusing of two or more pieces of
metal together by using the heat
produced from an electric arc welding
machine.
 Basics of Arc Welding
 The arc is struck between the
electrode and the metal. It then heats
the metal to a melting point. The
electrode is then removed, breaking
the arc between the electrode and the
metal. This allows the molten metal
to “freeze” or solidify.
 How an arc is formed?
 The arc is like a
flame of intense heat
that is generated as
the electrical current
passes through a
highly resistant air
gap.
 Welding Processes

 SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc

Welding)
 GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding)
 GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc
Welding)
 Oxygen/ Fuel Welding
 SMAW
 Also referred to as “Stick Welding”
 Used for everything from pipeline
welding, farm repair and complex
fabrication.
 Uses a “stick” shaped electrode.
 Can weld: steel, cast iron, stainless
steel, etc.
 Can also hard face with correct
electrode.
 Examples of
SMAW Welds
 GMAW
 Also referred to as “MIG” welding
 Uses a shield gas and a continuous
wire electrode
 Used for all types of fabrication
 Great for thin metals up to ¼”
 Excellent speed of deposition
 Used for metals such as: steel,
aluminum and stainless steel.
GMAW
Welds
MIG Welding Benefits
 All position capability
 Higher deposition rates than
SMAW
 Less operator skill required
 Long welds can be made
without starts and stops
 Minimal post weld cleaning is
required
 GTAW
 Also referred to as “TIG” Welding
 Uses a shield gas, a non-
consumable tungsten electrode and
a hand fed filler rod
 Excellent for welding thin metals,
pipeline welding and exotic metals
 Highly skilled labor needed for
this process
GTAW Welding Benefits
 Superior quality welds
 Welds can be made with or
without filler metal
 Precise control of welding
variables (heat)
 Free of spatter
 Low distortion
 Oxygen/ Fuel Welding
 Utilizes oxygen and a fuel gas to
heat metal until it is in a molten
state and fuse multiple pieces of
metal together.
Can be used with or without a filler
rod.
 Great for brazing dissimilar metals
together.
 Older technology that can be
replaced by GTAW
Types of SMAW
Machines
 AC Welding Machine
Most common type
found in homes,
farms, etc.
Good for farm
repairs, light jobs.
Low cost
 DC Welding Machines
 Often generator
type machines
 Diesel or
gasoline engine
driven
 Portable
 Expensive
 AC/DC Welders
 Can weld in AC
or DC polarity
 Less expensive
than DC
machine
 Quieter than
DC machine
 Arc
Welding
PPE
Arc Welding
PPE
 Heat and
sparks
Arc Welding
PPE
Eye damage