Arc Length -- Refers to the gap between the
end of the electrode and where the arc makes contact with the surface
of the metal.
Backup Strip -- A section of metal that is
butted-up to an open gap between two workpieces. Often times, backup
strips are used behind a gap to avoid blowing through the metal. The
backup strip can either be welded into place, or a metal with a high
melting temperature can be held behind the gap while welding.
Brazing -- A process in which a filler metal
that is above 850°F but lower than the melting temperature of the
parent metal, is used to join pieces together.
Duty Cycle -- The number of minutes out of a 10-minute
period in which an arc welder can operate the maximum-rated output.
Electrode -- A coated metal wire that has the
same composition as the metal that is being welded
Flash Burn -- This is when the radiation produced
by the ultraviolet rays from the welding arc burn your skin or your
eyes. This is commonly called “welder's flash”. Flash burn will have
similar effects to sunburn on your skin, and will feel like you have
sand in your eyes within 24 hours of being exposed. ALWAYS wear your
welding helmet and protective clothing when you are welding, or near
someone who is!
Flux -- The coating on arc-welding rods and
flux-cored welding wire. It is consumed in the arc to produce a
shielding gas.
Ground Lead -- The conductor cable between the
welder and the metal you are welding.
Hard Facing -- Welding electrode or
wire that is designed to add surface to an area rather than join two
pieces of metal together. This is often times used on high-wear areas
to allow for the surface to last longer when in constant contact with
another surface. Commonly used on the buckets of excavating machines.
Rated Output -- The amps and voltage the power
source in the welder will produce for a given duty-cycle period.
Shielding Gas -- Protective gas used to prevent
contaminants from the atmosphere against getting in the weld pool.
Normally this is a mixed gas or CO2.
Slag -- A layer of flux soot that protects the weld's
contaminants while the weld is cooling (or solidifying). Slag must be
removed after the weld cools.
Spatter -- Metal particles that are thrown while
welding. Spatter often sticks to, and cools on, the workpiece and must
be removed.
Stick Electrode -- A stick of metal filler that
has had the electrode covered by the necessary chemical or metallic
chemicals to shield the weld from the atmosphere when welding. The
stick also completes the electrical circuit and creates the arc
necessary to weld with a stick welder.
Tungsten -- A metallic element with an extremely
high melting point used for manufacturing TIG electrodes.
Weld Pool -- This is the molten metal that is seen
when welding metal together.
Wire Feed Speed -- The amount of
filler metal fed into a weld. The higher the wire feed speeds, the
higher the amperage.
Common Types of Welds.
The most common types of welds
or joints are listed below. These are usually the best to choose
from when welding 2 pieces of metal together.
Butt Weld
This weld is a joint between two plates
or sections where the components are butted together and do NOT overlap
or interlock. This is the most common joint used in the welding field.
Sometimes jointing plates are fixed or welded to the panels to add
additional strength.
Lap Joint
A joint in which the two metal parts
are overlapped in a parallel plane.
Corner Joint
A joint where the two metal parts are
to be joined at right angles to each other. These joints normally
require a large amount of weld metal to create a strong weld.
Edge Joint
This is a joint in which the surfaces
of the two metals that are to be welded are parallel to one another,
and the weld is made on the now-common edge when they are butted
together.
Plug Weld
A joint where the weld is made through
a circular hole that is in one of the pieces into the other part that
is placed directly behind the hole.
Seam Weld
A continuous weld that is made between
or on top of two overlapping metal parts.
Stitch Weld
A weld made between or upon two
overlapping parts. Often times these are referred to as “spot welds”,
although technically incorrect.
T-Joint
A type of joint that is produced when
two metal parts are perpendicular to each other and form the letter “T”
when welded.
