Arc Welding

By Ryan Saucier
 History of Arc Welding
Arc welding dates back to the late 1800s
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?
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 hardface 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
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