Welding – Definition and Types of Welding

Welding refers to the fabrication or sculptural process which joins materials with the use of high heat. Welding is a process which includes various types. Students can learn more about welding and its various types of welding here.

What is Welding? 

Welding refers to the process of joining two pieces of materials permanently together. These materials almost always are metal and plastic. This process involves using high heat to melt the parts together. Then the process allows them to cool causing fusion.

There are several types of welding that exist nowadays. Most noteworthy, most involve the use of extreme heat to melt the two materials together.

There are some welding methods that make use of alternative means which include solid-state welding on materials that don’t handle heat well. Moreover, most welding processes are quite new because their development took place after the usage of electricity.

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Types of Welding

• Energy Welding
• Resistance Welding
• Gas Welding
• Solid-State Welding
• Arc Welding

Energy Welding

Energy welding is a recently new process which is also called laser or electron beam welding. This process is easy and fast to automate. Therefore, it is quite useful for high-speed manufacturing.

This type of welding makes use of a high focus laser or electron beam. Furthermore, this process has a high start-up cost which acts as a major drawback for it. Moreover, it can also suffer from thermal cracking. Thermal cracking takes place when the exposure of the metal occurs to the extreme temperature changes.

Resistance Welding

This is a very important type among the various types of welding out there. Resistance welding consists of the application of an electric current between two metal pieces.

In this process, the melting of an extremely small section of the two metals happens due to the current. Most noteworthy, the metal gets sealed together in this process.

Resistance welding is less risky and dangerous in comparison to arc or gas types. Furthermore, the resistance type is easier to use and automate in comparison to other types.

The initial costs of equipment are quite high regarding this type. Moreover, this is limited to only joining two overlapping pieces of metal together.

Gas Welding

Gas welding is a very old type of welding. This type consists of an open flame fed by acetylene gas. Furthermore, this gas is fed through the welding torch.

This type is comparatively cheaper in comparison to various other types. Also, it has plenty of industrial applications. A major problem here is that the weld takes a long time to cool.

Solid-State Welding

This is quite an interesting type of welding because it joins two metal pieces through vibration and pressure. Here there is no requirement of heat to melt the metals.

In this type, the metals exchange atoms via diffusion due to intense pressure and vibration. Consequently, the two pieces join together as one.

There are several types of solid-state welding. Some of these include ultrasonic, friction, electromagnetic pulse, co-extrusion, diffusion, explosion welding, roll welding, etc. Comprehensive and detailed preparation and analysis of the metal surface must certainly take place before the beginning of solid-state welding.

Arc Welding

This type makes use of a welding power supply to create an electric arc. Furthermore, this arc is between the welder’s electrode and the metal undergoing the process. The heating of the metal takes place up to the melting point due to the electric arc. Arc welding is very popular due to its comparatively low costs.

Solved Question on Welding

Q1 Which of the following statement is in accordance with energy welding?

A. This type of welding makes use of a high focus laser or electron beam
B. This involves the application of an electric current between two metal pieces
C. It joins two metal pieces through vibration and pressure
D. This type consists of an open flame fed by acetylene gas

A1 The correct answer is option A., which is “this type of welding makes use of a high focus laser or electron beam”. This statement is truly in accordance with energy welding.