Most welding machines work by producing extreme heat. The heat melts metal, which bonds as it cools. Yet, welding machines come in a variety of designs to suit different types of welding.
Table of Contents
Types of Welding
The two most common forms of welding include arc welding and torch welding. Torch welding involves the use of a handheld torch to melt the work materials and filler rods.
Arc Welding
Arc welding involves the use of an electrode to create an electrical arc that achieves extremely high temperatures. There are also different types of arc welding, including:
- Gas metal arc welding (GMAW)
- Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
- Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is also called metal inert gas (MIG) welding. MIG welding is considered one of the easiest methods of welding, especially for tack welding.
GMAW uses a consumable electrode. The electrode is typically made of a solid metal wire. The wire melts, acting as a filler for the welding process. The machine continuously feeds the wire through the welding gun.
GMAW also involves the use of shielding gas. This may include a mixture of oxygen, argon, helium, and other gases.
The shielding gas shields the work materials from oxygen and the surrounding environment. Without shielding gas, the weld becomes exposed to oxygen, which leads to oxidation and increased porosity.
Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), or tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, is another common type of arc welding. The welding gun includes a non-consumable tungsten electrode instead of a consumable wire.
A separate filler rod is held with your other hand. Holding the electrode with one hand and the filler rod with the other increases the challenge of learning how to use TIG welding compared to MIG welding.
Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) is also commonly called stick welding. It includes a consumable electrode rod instead of a wire.
The rod is coated in flux, which is a welding agent. It aids the flow of molten metal during the welding process and shields the weld pool. It eliminates the need for a shielding gas, as the flux protects the weld from the atmosphere.
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Torch Welding
Torch welding involves the use of a flame instead of an electrical arc. It’s also called oxy-acetylene welding, as it requires the use of oxygen and acetylene.
Oxy-acetylene torches don’t reach the same temperatures as arc welding machines. The maximum temperature of the flame is typically around 6,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
Torch welding also requires the use of a filler rod. You hold the filler rod with one hand and the torch with the other. As with TIG welding, the filler rod and the base materials fuse as the temperatures rise and cool.
Components of a Welding Machine
The components of a welding machine vary depending on the welding process. However, most arc welders include at least the following parts:
- Power supply
- Handle or gun
- Electrode
- Filler metal
A power supply is needed to provide electricity to the electrode. The electrode may be consumable or non-consumable. Consumable electrodes act as filler metal.
Consumable electrode wires are used in MIG welding, while stick welding uses electrode rods. TIG welding has a non-consumable electrode and a separate filler metal.
A welding torch includes different components, including the torch itself and a power supply.
A welding torch often includes a handle and a long metal tube that bends near the tip. The handle may also include an oxygen valve and an acetylene valve. Otherwise, the flow of gas is controlled via regulators on the gas cylinders.
How Does a Welding Machine Work?
An arc welding machine, or welder, is designed to create an electrical arc. The power source sends electricity through the electrode. The metal that you intend to work on is grounded. When the electrode touches the metal, it completes a circuit.
The flow of electricity through the circuit generates heat. The heat turns the metal or alloys into a molten state. The materials bond as they cool and turn from a molten state to a solid state.
Using a welding machine involves the following steps and considerations:
- Set up the machine
- Ground the metal
- Use an electrode
- Form an arc
- Melt the metal
- Use a shielding gas
The exact process may vary depending on the type of welding machine that you use. Here’s a closer look.
Setting Up the Machine
Most MIG welders include at least three settings. You need to adjust the amperage, wire feed speed, and gas flow rate.
The gas flow rate is set on the regulators on the shielding gas tank. You need to turn the valve to adjust the flow of shielding gas.
The typical gas flow rate is between 20 and 25 cubic feet per hour (CFH). If the weld pool appears porous, you need to increase the flow.
The amperage and wire feed speed are set on the machine. The amperage is set based on the thickness of the filler wire that you use:
- 0.023 inches – 30 to 130 amps
- 0.030 inches – 40 to 145 amps
- 0.035 inches – 50 to 180 amps
- 0.045 inches – 75 to 250 amps
TIG welders include different settings. You need to set the polarity and the amperage. The polarity options include alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC).
DC power is used for TIG welding stainless steel, steel, and iron alloys. AC power is needed when TIG welding aluminum.
The alternating current helps with the removal of aluminum oxide on the surface of the aluminum. Removing the oxide ensures a cleaner joint with less porosity, which means that it’s less likely to crack under stress.
TIG welding machines also include settings for adjusting the frequency and pulse of the arc. The wavelength settings allow you to narrow or widen the shape of the arc cone or increase or decrease its force.
Grounding the Metal
Arc welding requires you to ground the metal. A ground clamp is attached to the base material you’re working with.
The clamp includes a wire that connects to the welding machine, making it part of the circuit created when arc welding. Without a complete circuit, you’ll fail to generate an arc.
Using an Electrode
An electrode is part of the circuit when using arc welding machines. You begin welding by touching the electrode to the metal you want to melt.
Forming an Arc
You must pull the electrode two to four millimeters away from the metal. The electric arc is formed just as you pull the electrode away. The temperature increases instantly.
Melting the Metal
The metal starts melting almost immediately after you start the electrical arc. The filler metal or electrode also starts to melt. The two materials create a weld pool, which is a puddle of molten material.
Most metals start fusing with the filler metal at around 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit. However, some metals have a much higher or lower melting point.
Attempting to bond metals with vastly different melting points can be challenging. You risk overheating the material with a lower melting point. The melting points for different metals include:
- Stainless steel – 2,500 to 2,785 degrees Fahrenheit
- Nickel – 2647 degrees Fahrenheit
- Cast iron – 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit
- Copper – 1980 degrees Fahrenheit
- Lead – 622 degrees Fahrenheit
The filler metal selection is incredibly important when working with metals of varying melting points. For example, a nickel-based filler material is often used when fusing carbon steel with copper or other materials with much lower melting points.
The molten material eventually cools and hardens, creating the weld joint that bonds to the two metals.
Using a Shielding Gas
A shielding gas is used to protect the work materials from exposure to the atmosphere. Oxygen and other types of gases can negatively impact the quality of the weld. Exposure to the environment can weaken the joints and make them more likely to crack.
Common shielding gases include:
- Oxygen
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Argon
- Helium
Argon is the most used shielding gas. It’s an inert, odorless, colorless gas. Carbon dioxide offers deeper penetration but creates a rougher weld.
A combination of argon and carbon dioxide is a common choice as it helps create more visually appealing joints with less spatter than pure CO2.
Gas tanks containing the shielding gas are set up near the work area when using MIG welding or TIG welding. Stick welding uses a consumable electrode coated in flux, which acts as the shielding gas.
You must ensure that the work area has proper ventilation due to the use of potentially flammable and combustible gases.
Conclusion
Welding machines are not overly complicated. Arc welding machines include a power supply, an electrode, and a grounding clamp.
The grounding clamp clamps to your workpiece. The power supply charges the electrode. When you touch the electrode to your workpiece, you complete the circuit. Pull away the electrode a few millimeters to start the welding process.
You’ll also need to learn to maintain your welding machine if you intend to keep using it. Always take the time to clean your machine when you’re done using it. You should also review the instruction manual for any additional maintenance tasks.
