Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals.

This is often
done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material
(the weld pool) that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure sometimes used in conjunction
with heat, or by itself, to produce the weld.
Many different energy sources can be used for welding, including a gas flame, an electric arc,
a laser, an electron beam, friction, and ultrasound. While often an industrial process, welding
may be performed in many different environments, including open air, under water and in outer
space.
There are several different ways to weld, such as: Shielded Metal Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten
Arc Welding, Tungsten Inert Gas and Metallic Inert Gas.

Shielded Metal Arc Welding
Is a manual arc welding process that has an electrode that has flux, the protectant for the
puddle, around it. The electrode holder holds the electrode as it slowly melts away. Because of
the versatility of the process and the simplicity of its equipment and operation, shielded metal
arc welding is one of the world's most popular welding processes. The process is used primarily
to weld iron and steels (including stainless steel) but aluminium, nickel and copper alloys can also
be welded with this method.
The picture of SMAW system setup :


Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
Also known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, is an arc welding process that uses a non-
consumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld. The weld area is protected from
atmospheric contamination by an inert shielding gas (argon or helium), and a filler metal is
normally used, though some welds, known as autogenous welds, do not require it. GTAW is most
commonly used to weld thin sections of stainless steel and non-ferrous metals such
as aluminum, magnesium, and copper alloys.

The picture of GTAW system setup:


Tungsten Inert Gas
TIG or Tungsten Inert Gas involves a much smaller hand-held gun that has a tungsten rod inside
of it. With most, you use a pedal to adjust your amount of heat and hold a filler metal with your
other hand and slowly feed it. Using the TIG welding process, a person can perform a variety of
weld types on a number of different metals, although steel and aluminum are the most widely
used.
The picture of TIG system setup :


Metallic Inert Gas
MIG or Metallic Inert Gas involves a wire fed "gun" that feeds wire at an adjustable speed and
sprays a shielding gas (generally pure Argon or a mix of Argon and CO2) over the weld puddle to
protect it from the outside world. Carbon steels, low alloy steels, stainless steels, most
aluminum alloys, zinc based copper alloys can be welded using this process.

The picture of MIG system setup :