Welding is a key metal fabrication process that involves joining cut pieces and formed parts together to make a final structure or component. There are various different types of welding techniques, each of which has its own uses and advantages. In this article, we explore the different types of welding used in modern metal fabrication, including popular techniques such as MIG, TIG, spot and stud welding.
Are you looking for welding services in Wiltshire? Contact our team today to request a free quote or discuss how we can help meet your welding needs.
What’s on this page
- What is welding?
- How many different types of welding are there?
- What are the different types of welding?
- What is robotic welding?
- Welding services in Wiltshire and beyond
What is welding?
Welding is a fabrication process that uses heat (and sometimes pressure) to fuse two or more parts. When the base metal is subjected to heat it produces a molten weld pool, which then cools and hardens to form a joint. In many cases, a filler material or consumable is used to help create the pool and strengthen the joint.
There are lots of different types of welding techniques. While MIG welding and TIG welding are probably the most common methods used today, other types of welds may be used for more specialist projects.
How many different types of welding are there?
There are more than 30 different types of welding techniques, although in reality only a few of these methods are actually used in modern metal fabrication. Some of the main types of welding include:
- MIG welding (metal inert gas welding)
- TIG welding (tungsten inert gas welding)
- Spot welding
- Stick welding (also known as arc welding)
- Stud welding.
The type of welding technique we choose depends on several factors, such as the type and thickness of the material, the desired results and the intended purpose of the final product. With a wealth of experience behind them, our highly-skilled welding team will always perform the most appropriate method for your particular project.
What are the different types of welding?
As we’ve already mentioned, there are many different types of welding techniques. From MIG and TIG to stud and stick, here we explore a few of the most common welding methods.
MIG welding
MIG welding is an example of gas metal arc welding, a technique that uses heat and electricity to fuse parts together. So how does it work? Electricity creates an arc (short circuit) between a consumable electrode wire (a positive anode) and the workpiece (a negative cathode). The arc then melts the wire to produce the weld pool. Once cooled, the weld pool solidifies to form a new piece of fused metal. An inert gas such as argon acts as a shield and prevents the weld puddle from being contaminated by the surrounding air.
MIG welding is a highly versatile technique that’s suitable for a wide range of metals in various thicknesses. Fast and cost-effective, it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most popular welding methods used in metal fabrication.
Looking for MIG welding services in Wiltshire or the surrounding areas? Give us a call to discuss how we can help you or visit our website for more information.
TIG welding
TIG welding is also a type of gas metal arc welding, however, unlike MIG welding, it uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode. As the electrode doesn’t melt, a thin metal wire is fed into the weld area instead. The heat from the electrical arc melts the rod, which in turn produces the weld pool. As the welder moves the TIG torch along the join, the arc progressively fuses the parts. Just like MIG welding, an inert shielding gas is used to protect the weld pool from contamination.
TIG welding is a notoriously difficult technique to master, which means it can be more time-consuming than other types of welding. However, one of the benefits of TIG welding is that it produces neater welds.
You can read more information about our TIG welding services on our website. If you have a specific project you’d like to discuss, just get in touch and our experienced team will be happy to help.
Spot welding
Spot welding is an electric resistance welding process that’s ideal for use on thin sheet metal between 0.5mm and 3mm thick. So how does it work? The process uses two copper alloy electrodes to concentrate the welding current into a precise point, or spot, on the workpiece. The heat generated by the electrical current then melts and fuses the parts together. The electrodes also exert pressure to hold the materials in place.
The resistance between the electrodes, along with the duration and magnitude of the current, determine how much heat is delivered to the spot. An experienced welder can tailor the amount of energy being delivered to the spot to suit the type of electrode and properties of the sheet material.
Spot welding is a fast and relatively simple process that doesn’t require the use of a filler material or inert gas. You can read more about the benefits of spot welding on our website.
Stud welding
Stud welding is a highly versatile process in which metal fasteners (weld studs) are joined to a base metal or substrate.
The technique uses electricity to create an arc between the end of the stud and the surface of the workpiece. The heat from the arc melts both parts to create a molten weld pool. The stud welding gun then presses the stud into the workpiece to form the join. Weld studs come in a variety of designs and sizes (threaded, unthreaded, tapped etc), making them suitable for a wide range of applications.
If you’re looking for stud welding or metal fabrication services in Wiltshire or the surrounding areas, get in touch to speak to a member of the team.
What is robotic welding?
As the name suggests, robotic welding is an automated technique that uses mechanised programmable tools (robots) to perform the welding process. A robotic arm controls the welding torch and performs the operation by following pre-programmed instructions. While the welding itself is performed by the robot, a human welder still oversees the process.
Robots can be used to perform a range of different welding techniques including spot, stud, TIG and MIG welding. As well as guaranteeing high quality and consistency, robotic welding significantly improves productivity and efficiency.
Looking for a company that specialises in robotic welding in the Wiltshire area? Located in Trowbridge, our modern factory is equipped with a state-of-the-art robotic arm that allows us to provide customers with a fast and cost-effective robot welding service.
Visit our website or contact us to find out more.
Welding services in Wiltshire and beyond
Welding is an essential part of our metal fabrication services here at Knees Engineering. Our experienced team can perform a range of welding techniques including MIG, TIG, stud and spot welding.
With fully-equipped welding bays and the latest robotic welding equipment, we can also complete large volume jobs quickly while maintaining a high level of consistency. Offering both manual and robotic welding also means our team can choose the most cost-effective method for your project.
Our factory is based in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, but we work with businesses from across the UK.
If you’re looking for an experienced metal fabricator or require welding services in Wiltshire or beyond, give us a call to discuss your requirements.