| Welding is used across the globe in some way in | | | | • Pressure Gas Welding. |
| nearly every industry you can imagine. It's used in | | | | Resistance Welding |
| industrial settings, open air environments, | | | | Resistance welding uses the application of an |
| underwater and even in outer space. Welding is | | | | electric current along with mechanical pressure to |
| used on almost every scale - by handymen and | | | | create a weld between two pieces of metal. |
| structural engineers. And because there are so | | | | This method allows higher speeds, easy |
| many uses for welding, there are also many | | | | automation and is suitable for high production |
| different types of welding, each suited to | | | | rates. However, the initial equipment costs and |
| different jobs and purposes. We're going to take | | | | lower tensile & fatigue strengths temper out |
| a look at some of the more popular kinds of | | | | the payoff. |
| welding. | | | | Resistance welding is used heavily in the |
| Forge Welding | | | | automotive industry. |
| While not used as much as it was in the 19th | | | | Energy Beam Welding |
| century, there is still a place for forge welding | | | | As its name suggests, energy beam welding is a |
| today, especially when creating high-quality | | | | category of welding which utilizes a beam of such |
| collectible knives and swords. This method of | | | | high energy intensity that it is capable of melting |
| welding is one of the oldest around and relies on a | | | | and vaporizing metals. This process of welding |
| process of heating and pounding metal. Forge | | | | uses electron or laser beams and is very useful |
| welding is the craft employed by blacksmiths of | | | | for precision welding, drilling and cutting. |
| old, making swords, weapons, horseshoes and | | | | Solid State Welding |
| many other day to day necessities. | | | | Our final category, solid state welding is very |
| Arc Welding | | | | similar to forge welding in that it doesn't rely on |
| Arc welding relies on a welding power supply to | | | | the melting of metal to work. One of the most |
| create an electric arc between a positively | | | | popular methods of solid state welding is ultrasonic |
| charged electrode and a negatively charged steel | | | | welding, a process very similar to resistance |
| place. The electrical current will "jump" through the | | | | welding, except instead of relying on an electrical |
| resulting air gap and will create an arc of | | | | current, vibration is used to create the energy |
| enormous heat - capable of melting metal. | | | | output. Ultrasonic welding is used for making |
| Arc welding is one of the most widely used | | | | electrical connections out of aluminum or copper, |
| welding methods around and has many different | | | | and it is also a very common polymer welding |
| secondary branches including: | | | | process. |
| • AC (Alternating Current) Arc Welding | | | | Other popular methods of solid state welding |
| • DC (Direct Current) Arc Welding | | | | include: |
| • Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) | | | | • Explosion welding (relies on the use of |
| • Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) | | | | incredibly high pressure and is often used to join |
| • Submerged Arc Welding (SAW), | | | | two dissimilar materials.) |
| • As well as many other specialized methods. | | | | • Co-extrusion welding |
| Gas Welding | | | | • Cold welding |
| Unlike arc welding, which relies on electricity, gas | | | | • Diffusion welding |
| welding uses gas (usually a combustion of | | | | • Friction welding |
| acetylene and oxygen) to produce a welding | | | | • High frequency welding |
| flame that exceeds temperatures of 3000 | | | | • Hot pressure welding |
| degrees Celsius. | | | | • Induction welding, and |
| Gas welding is one of the planets oldest and most | | | | • Roll welding. |
| versatile welding processes, but has gone out of | | | | Between these many different welding methods |
| fashion in industrial applications over the recent | | | | (and many more we didn't identify) we are able |
| years. However, it is still popular to use when | | | | to graft metals and other materials together in |
| welding pipes and tubing, as well as with | | | | such a way that skyscrapers, space shuttles and |
| completing some repairs. | | | | automobiles can take shape. But, we can also do |
| Varieties of gas welding methods include: | | | | something as intricate as make jewelry. We've |
| • Oxyfuel welding | | | | been welding for millennia, and we'll do it for many |
| • Air Acetylene Welding | | | | millennia more. |
| • Oxygen Hydrogen Welding, and | | | | |