TIG & MIG

TIG & MIG

NORMAL ARC WELDING

Arc welding provides you the ability to join two metals by melting them with an arc
generated between a coated-metal electrode and the base metal. The temperatures
developed by the arc can reach as high as 10000F. The arc energy is provided by a
power source that generates either direct or alternating current. The electrodes that
carry the current produce a gas that shields the arc from the atmosphere and
supplies filler metal to develop the weld shape.

Principles of arc welding

Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovi

Arc welding is a welding process, in which heat is generated by an electric arc struck
between an electrode and the work piece.
Electric arc is luminous electrical discharge between two electrodes through ionized
gas.
Any arc welding method is based on an electric circuit consisting of the following
parts:

Power supply (AC or DC);

Welding electrode;
Work piece;
Welding leads (electric cables) connecting the electrode and work piece to the power
supply.

Electric arc between the electrode and work piece closes the electric circuit.
The arc temperature may reach 10000F (5500C), which is sufficient for fusion the
work piece edges and joining them. When a long join is required the arc is moved
along the joint line. The front edge of the weld pool melts the welded surfaces when
the rear edge of the weld pool solidifies forming the joint. When a filler metal is
required for better bonding, filling rod (wire) is used either as outside material fed to
the arc region or as consumable welding electrode, which melts and fills the weld
pool. Chemical compositions of filler metal is similar to that of work piece.
Molten metal in the weld pool is chemically active and it reacts with the surrounding
atmosphere. As a result weld may be contaminated by oxide and nitride inclusions
deteriorating its mechanical properties. Neutral shielding gases (argon, helium)
and/ shielding fluxes are used for protection of the weld pool from atmospheric
contamination. Shields are supplied to the weld zone in form of a flux coating of the
electrode or in other forms.
Advantages of Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW):
Simple, portable and inexpensive equipment;
Wide variety of metals, welding positions and electrodes are applicable;
Suitable for outdoor applications.
Disadvantages of Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW):
The process is discontinuous due to limited length of the electrodes;
Weld may contain slag inclusions;
Fumes make difficult the process control.
GAS SHIELDING ARC WELDING
MIG

GAS SHIELDING ARC WELDING-MIG

Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG, GMAW)

Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich

Metal Inert Gas Welding (Gas Metal Arc Welding) is a arc welding process, in which
the weld is shielded by an external gas (Argon, helium, CO2, argon + Oxygen or other
gas mixtures).
Consumable electrode wire, having chemical composition similar to that of the
parent material, is continuously fed from a spool to the arc zone. The arc heats and
melts both the work pieces edges and the electrode wire. The fused electrode material
is supplied to the surfaces of the work pieces, fills the weld pool and forms joint.
Due to automatic feeding of the filling wire (electrode) the process is referred to as a
semi-automatic. The operator controls only the torch positioning and speed.

Advantages of Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG, GMAW):

Continuous weld may be produced (no interruptions);

High level of operators skill is not required;
Slag removal is not required (no slag);

Disadvantages of Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG, GMAW):

Expensive and non-portable equipment is required;
Outdoor application are limited because of effect of wind, dispersing the shielding gas.

TIG

GAS SHIELDING ARC WELDING-TIG

TIG PRINCIPLES

Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), also known as Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG)
welding is a process that produces an electric arc maintained between a nonconsumable tungsten electrode and the part to be welded. The heat-affected xone,
the molten metal and the tungsten electrode are all shielded from atmospheric

contamination by a blanket of inert gas fed through the GTAW torvh. Inert gas
(usually Argon) is inactive or deficient in active chemical properties. The shielding
gas serves to blanket the weld and esclude active properties in the sorrounding air.
Inert gases such as Argon and Helium do not chemically react or combine with other
gases. They pose no odor and are transparent, permitting the welder maximum
visibility of the arc. In some instances Hydrogen gas may be added to enhance travel
speeds.
The GTAW process can produce temperatures of up to 35,000 degrees F (19,426
degrees C). The torch contributes heat only to the workpiece. If filler metal is
required to make the weld, it may be added manually in the same manner as it is
added
in
the
oxyacetylene
welding
process.
GTAW is used to weld stainless steel, nickel alloys such as Monel and Inconel,
titanium, aluminum, magnesium, copper, brass, bronze and even gold. GTAW can
also weld dissimilar metals to one another such as copper to brass and stainless to
mild steel.
Tungsten Inert Gas Arc Welding (TIG, GTAW)
Dr. Dmitri Kopeliovich
Tungsten Inert Gas Arc Welding (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) is a welding process, in
which heat is generated by an electric arcstruck between a tungsten non-consumable
electrode and the work piece.
The weld pool is shielded by an inert gas (Argon, helium, Nitrogen) protecting the
molten metal from atmospheric contamination.
The heat produced by the arc melts the work pieces edges and joins them. Filler rod may
be used, if required.
Tungsten Inert Gas Arc Welding produces a high quality weld of most of metals. Flux is
not used in the process.

Advantages of Tungsten Inert Gas Arc Welding (TIG, GTAW):

Weld composition is close to that of the parent metal;
High quality weld structure
Slag removal is not required (no slag);
Thermal distortions of work pieces are minimal due to concentration of heat in small
zone.
Disadvantages of Tungsten Inert Gas Arc Welding (TIG, GTAW):
Low welding rate;
Relatively expensive;
Requres high level of operators skill.