Precision welding is a key part of the manufacturing process. There are multiple types of welding available, but they all utilize controlled heat and pressure to fuse pieces of metal together and create strong, durable joints. At Highland Machine, our professionals handle laser welding, spot welding, TIG welding, and MIG welding. In this article, we’ll go over what each of these methods is, plus their benefits and applications.
- Laser welding
- TIG welding
- MIG welding
- Flux-Cored Arc welding
- Spot welding
Laser welding
Laser welding uses a high powered laser beam to melt your metal, fuse pieces together, and create a durable bond. One of its primary benefits is that it produces very little deformation in comparison to traditional types of welding, because it has a lower heat input. For this reason, laser welding is highly effective for smaller parts and thinner materials. It also offers rapid heating and cooling, which helps minimize quality issues that can result from things like hydrogen embrittlement. Due to how fast the process is, there is less time for hydrogen absorption and diffusion.
Laser welding is commonly used for creating small, precise components, like surgical blades, fuel injectors, and transistors, in these industries:
- Medical
- Electronics
- Aerospace
- Automotive
TIG welding
TIG welding stands for Tungsten Inert Gas and is also known as Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW). This process uses a tungsten electrode that provides current to the welding arc and creates a very high temperature to melt the metal and create a weld pool. An inert gas, often argon, protects and cools the tungsten and welding area from any contamination in the air. The benefits of TIG welding include excellent precision and control, the ability to work with a variety of metals and thicknesses, and clean, visually appealing welds.
TIG welding is popular for fabricating structural and engine components, fuel lines and tanks, exhaust pipes, food processing equipment where cleanliness is critical, and similar applications. This method is used in the following industries:
- Chemical processing
- Food processing
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Precision instruments
MIG welding
MIG welding stands for Metal Inert Gas and is also called Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW). It is an arc welding method that heats a solid wire electrode and feeds it into the weld pool from the welding gun. The electrode heats the two metals, melts them, and bonds them together. Similar to TIG welding, MIG welding employes an inert gas to protect the weld pool from air contamination. The top advantage of this process is fast weld times compared to other methods. It is widely used for thicker metals, because it can heat them quickly, and is applicable for a wide variety of materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
MIG welding is commonly used for heavy building materials, structures, industrial components, joining pipelines, automotive bodies, and similar products and projects. You’ll typically find it in the below industries:
- Electronics
- Utility vehicles
- Printing industry
- Storage and shelving
Flux-Cored Arc Welding
Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) is a highly efficient welding process that uses a continuously fed electrode containing a flux core that is filled with powdered compounds or “flux”. The flux serves two purposes; it stabilizes the electric arc, and it produces a shielding gas to protect the molten weld pool from atmospheric contamination. Unlike MIG welding, FCAW can often be performed outdoors without the need for external shielding gas, making it highly versatile in different environments. Its advantages include deep weld penetration, quick welding speeds, and strong, durable welds, even on thick or heavy duty materials.
Flux-Cored Arc Welding is often used for construction projects, heavy equipment fabrication, and for making repairs in outdoor or windy conditions. It’s a go to choice for:
- Infrastructure projects
- Equipment manufacturing
- Pipeline and structural fabrication
Spot welding
This type of welding involves the use of two electrodes that apply electrical current to heat the two metal pieces and fuse them together. Spot welding is also known as resistance welding or spot resistance welding and is applicable for a variety of metals, including aluminum, steel, copper, nickel, brass, and more. Its main advantages are that it is fast and efficient, requiring minimal post welding processing and no filler materials, it is safer than methods that utilize gases and open flames, it is economical compared to other welding, and it can be automated effectively.
Spot welding is widely employed to fuse together pieces of thin sheet metal, making it a common method for fabricating car and aircraft bodies, pipelines, tanks, appliances, and more in several industries:
- Automotive
- Aerospace
- Home appliances
- Infrastructure
Work with Highland Machine for all types of welding and fabrication
At Highland Machine, we handle projects of all shapes and sizes—whether you require a single prototype or 1,000 products. We have a team of expert, highly experienced welders who will utilize the method that is most effective for your particular materials, timeline, and other requirements.
We’re an end-to-end sheet metal fabricator and a one stop shop for your needs! In addition to welding, our team offers custom powder coating and metal finishing, assembly services, inventory management, and more.