| MIG Welding is another very popular type of welding. | | | | working on which causes a spatter. This is difficult to |
| Learn about MIG Welding and the basics of MIG | | | | control as you would imagine. |
| Welding. | | | | |
| This process is called by many names and it basically | | | | Short circuiting -- this uses a smaller current than the |
| is a welding process that uses an arc to heat metal | | | | globular method but it still uses carbon dioxide. |
| that needs to be joined. The welder uses a | | | | Because of the lower current you can actually weld |
| continuous feed filler metal (a consumable) electrode | | | | thinner metals together with this method. This |
| and this is used on the work-piece. This type of | | | | method is similar to the globular method because |
| welding also must use a shielding that is provided by | | | | drops of melted metal from the electrode still forms, |
| a gas or a mixture of gasses. | | | | but it causes the electrode to short circuit instead of |
| | | | | the drops falling on the work. This closes off the arc |
| This type of welding is also called short circuit | | | | but comes back again because the surface tension |
| transfer. In the MIG process, when the wire actually | | | | pulls the metal goblet from the tip. |
| touches the metal to be connected, it lets go of the | | | | |
| metal that does the welding. This makes sure that | | | | Spray -- this was the first method for transfer used |
| metal doesn't transfer across an arc so there is no | | | | with GMAW and used to weld aluminium and stainless |
| puddling. | | | | steel. The difference with this process is that the |
| | | | | electrode metal passes through an electric arc that is |
| Also known as gas metal arc welding, the | | | | stable and goes all the way to the workplace. This |
| MIG(GMAW) process uses a metal gun to provide | | | | stops spattering and you get a weld finish that is |
| this service instead of a torch so that you get a | | | | higher quality than in other methods. You also will |
| direct current going to the metal. You can use both | | | | watch as the current and voltage increases so you |
| constant current and alternating current systems to | | | | get small, vaporized steam droplets instead of large |
| also produce this method of welding. | | | | globules. |
| | | | | |
| GMAW uses four ways to transfer metal. These are: | | | | Pulse spray -- this last one is a newer way of doing |
| | | | | this type of welding that uses a continuous current |
| Globular -- this method is difficult and used the least | | | | that pulses and melts the filler wire. In each pulse a |
| because it has a tendency to spatter because the | | | | small droplet of metal will fall. |
| gun will move to a high heat without warning. This | | | | This also allows the welder to use a lower current. |
| makes the welding surface come out with flaws. | | | | The welder gets a more stable arc and this stops |
| This method uses carbon dioxide so the electrode | | | | spatter and the short circuiting process. Because this |
| tends to produce a ball of melted metal that cases | | | | process is slower, argon gas is used instead of |
| irregular shapes that are bigger than the electrode. | | | | carbon dioxide as the shielding gas. |
| They then drop and falls onto the piece you are | | | | |