Welding is a fabrication process that involves joining two or more pieces of metal (or sometimes thermoplastics) by heating them to their melting points and then allowing them to cool and solidify to form a strong bond. Welding is commonly used in construction, manufacturing, automotive industries, and metalwork.
There are various types of welding, including:
- MIG Welding (Metal Inert Gas / Gas Metal Arc Welding - GMAW)
- Uses a continuous wire electrode fed through a welding gun.
- Shielding gas protects the weld from contaminants.
- Easy to learn and commonly used for steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
- TIG Welding (Tungsten Inert Gas / Gas Tungsten Arc Welding - GTAW)
- Uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode.
- Provides precise, high-quality welds.
- Suitable for thin materials and non-ferrous metals like aluminum and copper.
- Stick Welding (Shielded Metal Arc Welding - SMAW)
- Uses a consumable electrode coated with flux.
- Simple and inexpensive, works well outdoors.
- Good for thicker materials and rusty or dirty surfaces.
- Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
- Similar to MIG welding but uses a wire filled with flux instead of shielding gas.
- Ideal for heavy, thick materials and outdoor welding.
- Laser Welding
- Uses high-energy laser beams to fuse materials.
- Provides high precision and speed.
- Commonly used in the automotive and electronics industries.
- Spot Welding
- A type of resistance welding used mainly for joining sheet metal.
- Common in automotive manufacturing.