Welding of metals has been around for centuries and today we use a lot of interesting methods. These days not only are we using welding to make products, cars, aircraft, and boats we are using it in arts and design as well. Many artists use welders to create metal artifacts while the jewelers also make good use of it. You can join steel, aluminum, copper, and other sorts of metals and alloys using modern equipment.
You can sculpt or fabricate metal any way you like. Heat and pressure are required to bring two pieces of metal together. You can join similar metals or dissimilar metals using computerized settings. The risk of error is now greatly reduced due to the use of computer software. Welding technicians can save their equipment setting for later use.
For mass production, welding can be done by robots. With little or no human intervention the risk of wastage and financial loss is almost zero. Two pieces of metal can be easily made one. Some applications require low heat. Fusing techniques such as brazing or soldering use little heat and the process does not melt the base metal, while some may require much higher heat settings to melt the metals to be joined.
Strong links between base metal parts can be made by melting metals. When heated the parts to be joined form into molten and when it cools down, you have a reliable joint.
Some welding methods use fillers to make the molten material. The welding parts and fillers have to be shielded in some processes. Technicians also need to wear protective gear. Various energy sources can be used to join metals. These include gas flames, electric arcs, friction, lasers, electron beams, and ultrasound. Welding can be done underwater, in the open air, and also in space.
The earliest form of welding was forge welding that was commonly used by blacksmiths. In the 18th century, new methods such as arc-welding and oxyfuel welding were introduced.
These days we commonly use a variety of welding methods that include:
• Atomic Hydrogen Welding (AHW)
• Energy Beam Welding (EBW)
• Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)
• Gas Tungsten-Arc Welding
• MIG – Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW)
• Plasma Arc Welding
• Stick – Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
• TIG – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW)
Each welding method is different, one from another and you have to know what is best for your application. The internet is a treasure trove of information on welding. You can find good resources to guide you. Companies that work on welding projects for brand names can also help you out. They know all about the various types of equipment and fillers. If you want to buy new equipment you can find the latest welder models online. The choice of equipment depends on your application.
For weld cast iron stick welding is used. This method can weld unclean metals and can be used in extreme weather conditions as well. It works much better for thick materials as compared to other types of welding processes. It is however not the ideal choice for all applications. When you need high-quality welds TIG welding will be the right choice. Those who want to join metals of various thicknesses use the MIG welders.
Soft metals cannot cope with much heat as they begin to melt. Both MIG and TIG can be used for soft metals effectively. TIG is the most preferable method used for softer metals. It is more popular than MIG as it gives better results. Aluminum is a soft metal and TIG is widely used to join it. Comparatively, steel is much harder than aluminum and the choice of method depends on the thickness of pieces to be joined. For thick metal sheets, the use of stick and flux welding is the standard. For stainless steel the use of TIG and MIG is common.
With MIG you can adjust the power output. It is an easier way to weld. Those who wish to learn to weld can start with MIG as the equipment cost is very affordable. They can get strong welds just like the professionals. The process is simple and it is the number choice for beginners. There are two types of MIG welding, bare wire and flux core. Bare wire technique is employed for welding thinner pieces of metal. Flux core does not require a flow meter or a gas supply and hence can be used outdoors.
Many creative people take up welding as a hobby. You can also start your small business from your garage. Browse through the authorized distributor shops online to see what you like. Get a welder and start making metal artwork or begin to fix things for others. You can also repair lithium-ion batteries for others. You can buy a battery tab welder online and have it delivered to your doorstep. Get technical advice and a test weld before you make a purchase.