Arc Welding

By Ryan Saucier
 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?
• 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 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