|
Welding Dictionary - A |
| ACTUAL THROAT |
The minimum distance between the weld root and weld face. |
| Air-Carbon Arc Cutting (Cac-A) |
A cutting process of an arc, by which metals
are melted by the heat using a carbon electrode. Molten metals are
forced away by a blast of forced air. |
| Alloy |
A mixture composed of more than one elements,of which at least
one is a metal. |
| Automatic Welding |
Equipment that Welds without adjusting the controls constantly.
automatic sensing device is used for adjusting the controls. Shortly
weld made by equipments like robots |
| Arc Blow |
The deflection from its normal path of an electric welding arc
due to some magnetic forces in the base metal. |
| Arc Cutting |
cutting processes in which the cutting of metals is done by melting
with the heat of an arc between the electrode and the base metal.. |
| Arc Welding |
welding processes in which metal fusion is obtained by heating
with an electric arc, using the filler metal is optional.. |
| Arc |
A physical gap between the end of an electrode and base metal.
This gap causes heat due to resistance |
| Amperage |
Measuring the amount of electricity flowing through a given point
in a conductor per second. Amperage is nothing but current. |
| Auto-Link® (MTE) |
Internal inverter power source circuit that automatically links
the power sour ce to the primary voltage being applied. It does
not need manually linking primary voltage terminals. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - B |
| Bead Weld |
A type of weld composed of one or more string beads deposited
on an surface |
| Base Metal |
The metal to be welded, brazed, soldered, or cut. In alloys, it
is the largest proportion. |
| Butt Joint |
Joining two metals in such a manner that the weld joining the
parts is between the surface planes of both metal pieces. |
| Butt Weld |
A weld joining two metals laying in the same plane. A weld in
a butt joint. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - C |
| Constant Current (CC) Welding Machine |
CC welding machines have limited maximum short
circuit current. They have a negative volt-amp curve and are often
referred to as "droopers". The voltage will change with different
arc lengths with slight variation in amperage, thus the name constant
current or variable voltage. |
| Constant-Speed Wire Feeder |
Feeder works from 24 or 115 VAC supplied by the welding power
source |
| Constant Voltage (CV), Constant Potential (CP) Welding
Machine |
CV and CP welding machine output maintains a
relatively stable, consistent voltage without considering the amperage
output. It results in a relatively flat volt-amp curve as opposed
to the drooping volt-amp curve of a typical Stick
(SMAW) welding machine. "Potential" and "voltage" are
basically same. |
| Current |
Also called amperage. The amount of electricity
flowing through a point in a conductor every second. |
| Concavity |
A weld that drops under the intended perpendicular plane. |
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|
Welding Dictionary - D |
| Defect |
One or more discontinuities that cause the weld or part unable
to meet minimum acceptance standards or criteria of the design specifications. |
| Direct Current (DC) |
Current flows in one direction from negative to positive (Cathode
to Anode) and does not reverse its direction of flow as alternating
current. |
| Direct Current Electrode Negative (DCEN) |
Current flowing out of the welding Rod or Wire
is dispersed into the work piece ,therefore giving less penetration.
About 1/3 of the heat is on the end of the rod and 2/3 on the work
piece. |
| Direct Current Electrode Positive (DCEP) |
Current flowing into the welding Rod or Wire and therefore putting
more heat at the rod or wire end. This gives you 2/3 heat on the
rod and 1/3 on the work piece, which gives greater penetration for
thick metals because the arc force digs into the steel before depositing
filler metal. |
| Duty Cycle |
The percentage of time a machine can run in a ten minute period
of time before it overheats.
10% = 1 minute out of every 10.
20% = 2 minutes out of every 10.
On up to 100% which would run the full time without stopping. For
a machine in a factory or construction site you'd want a 100% duty
cycle |
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| Welding
Dictionary - E |
| Edge Joint |
Joining the edges of two or more parallel members. |
| Edge Preparation |
Before welding the edge of a plate or pipe, care
is taken to ensure a sound weld. It may be torch cut, machined with
a grinder, filed, or all three. |
| Electrode |
Electrodes are either covered with flux, or just bare wire. In
the field an electrode is called a "rod" in stick welding,
and "wire" for Mig and Flux Cored Arc Welding. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - F |
| Fan-On-Demand™ |
Internal power source cooling system that only works when needed,
to keep internal components cleaner. |
| Fixed Automation |
Automated, electronically controlled welding system
for simple, straight or circular welding. |
| Flexible Automation |
Automated, robotically controlled welding system used for complex
shapes and applications where welding require torch-angle manipulation. |
| Flux Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) |
An arc welding process which melts and welds
metals by heating them with an arc between a continuous, consumable
electrode wire and the work. Shielding is attained from a flux contained
within the electrode core. Depending upon the type of flux-cored
wire used added shielding may or may not be provided from externally
supplied gas or gas mixture. Consumables: contact tips, flux cored
wire, shielding gas (if required, depends on wire type). |
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| Welding
Dictionary - G |
| Ground Connection |
A safety connection between a welding machine frame and the earth.
Often used for grounding an engine-driven welding machine where
a cable is connected from a ground stud on the welding machine
to a metal placed in the ground. |
| Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) |
An arc welding process in which metal fusion is produced by the
heat of an arc between a continuous filler metal electrode and the
work piece with externally supplied shielding gas.
GMAW-P (pulse arc) and GMAW-S (short arc) are variations of this
method. |
| Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW) |
A gas shielded arc welding method in which the
heat is produced using a non-consumable tungsten electrode to transfer
the arc to the work piece. |
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| Welding
Dictionary -H |
| Hertz |
Hertz is referred as "cycles per second". |
| High Frequency |
Covers the high frequency spectrum above 50,000 Hz. Used in TIG
welding for arc ignition and stabilization. |
| Hot Start™ |
Used in some Stick (SMAW) machines to make it
easier to start difficult-to-start electrodes. Used for arc starting
only. |
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| Welding
Dictionary -I |
| Inverter |
Power source which raises the frequency of the incoming primary
power, thus providing for a smaller size machine and improved electrical
characteristics for welding, such as faster response time and more
control for pulse welding. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - J |
| Joint |
Intersection where two different sections of base metal meet. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - K |
| KVA (Kilovolt-amperes) |
The total volts times amps divided by 1,000, demanded by a welding
power source from the primary power supplied by the utility company. |
| KW (Kilowatts) |
A kilowatt is volts times amps divided by 1,000
and taking into account any power factor. Primary KW is the actual
power used by the power source when it is producing its rated output.
Secondary KW is the actual power output of the welding power source.
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| Welding
Dictionary - L |
| Lift-Arc™ |
Allows TIG arc starting without high frequency. Starts the arc
at any current without contaminating the weld with tungsten. |
| Lap Joint |
Joining two overlapping metal parts by means of a fillet, plug
or slot weld. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - M |
| Microprocessor |
One or more integrated circuits that are programmed with stored
instructions to perform varies functions. |
| MIG (GMAW or Gas Metal Arc Welding) |
Also referred to as solid wire welding. It is an arc welding process
in which fusion of metals is by heating them with an arc. The arc
is between a continuously fed filler metal (consumable) electrode
and the work piece. Shielding is provided by externally supplied
gas or gas mixtures.
Common MIG
welding is referred to as short circuit transfer. Metal
is deposited only when the wire actually touches the work piece.
No metal is transferred across the arc.
Another method of MIG welding spray transfer, it
moves a stream of tiny molten beads across the arc from the electrode
to the weld puddle. Consumables: contact tips, shielding gas, welding
wire |
| Melting Rate |
The weight or length of the rod (electrode) melted in a unit of
time. |
| Melting Point |
The temperature at which a metal starts to liquefy. |
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| Welding
Dictionary -N |
| Nonferrous |
Metals not from iron ore. Aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, lead,
nickel, and titanium are nonferrous metals. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - O |
| Open-Circuit Voltage (OCV) |
No current will flow in the circuit because the circuit is open.
The voltage is impressed upon the circuit, however, so that when
the circuit is closed, the current will flow immediately. For example,
a welding
machine that is turned on but not being used for welding
at the moment will have an open-circuit voltage. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - P |
| Plasma Arc Cutting |
An arc
cutting process which cuts metal by using a thin arc
to melt a small area of the work. This process can cut all metals
that conduct electricity. |
| Pounds Per Square Inch (psi) |
Measurement of a mass or weight applied to one square inch of
surface area. |
| Power Efficiency |
How efficiently an electrical machine uses the incoming electrical
power. |
| Power Factor Correction |
Usually used on single-phase, constant current power sources,
to reduce the amount of primary current demanded from the power
company while welding. |
| Primary Power |
Often referred to as the input line voltage and current available
to the welding machine from the shop's main power line. It is expressed
in watts or kilowatts (KW), primary input power is AC and may be
single-phase or three-phase. Welding machines with the capability
of accepting more than one primary input voltage and current must
be properly connected for the incoming primary power being used. |
| Pulsed MIG (MIG-P) |
A modified spray transfer process that produces no spray because
the wire does not touch the weld puddle. Currently using short circuit
transfer method for welding
steel, 14 gauge (1.8 mm) and up are best suited for
pulsed MIG . Consumables: contact tips, shielding gas, welding wire. |
| Pulsed TIG (TIG-P) |
A modified TIG welding process suitable for welding
thinner materials. Consumables: tungsten electrode, filler material,
shielding gas. |
| Pulsing |
Sequencing and controlling the amount of current, the polarity,
and the duration of the welding arc process. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - R |
| Rated Load |
The amperage and voltage of the power source is designed for producing
a given specific duty cycle period. For example, 300 amps, 32 load
volts, at 60% duty cycle. |
| Resistance Spot Welding(RSW) |
A process in which two metal pieces are joined by passing current
between electrodes positioned on opposite sides of the pieces to
be welded. There is no arc in this process, and the resistance of
the metal to the current flow causes the fusion. Spot
welding requires the following equipment: air- or water-cooled
spot welder, set of 2 tongs and set of 2 tips. Consumables are not
required to spot weld. |
| RMS |
Root Mean Square. The "effective" values of measured AC voltage
or current RMS equals 0.707 times the maximum, or peak value. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - S |
| Semiautomatic Welding |
The welding
machine operates the wire (FILLER METAL) and supplies
the SHEILDING GAS automatically, but it needs a
person to pull the trigger and control the gun to make the weld.
MIG is an example. |
| Shielding Gas |
Gases which prevents atmospheric contamination of the weld puddle.
Examples are some inert gases: argon or helium. |
| Single-Phase Circuit |
An electrical circuit generating only one alternating cycle within
a 360 degree time period. |
| Spatter |
The metal particles excluded during arc and gas
welding. These particles do not form a part of the finished
weld. |
| Spot Welding |
Employed in some materials having some type of overlapping joint
design. Refer to resistance, MIG or TIG spot
welding.
Resistance
spot welds are made from electrodes on both sides of
the joint, while TIG and MIG spots are made from electrodes on one
side only. |
| Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) |
Also known as stick
welding. This welding process uses a powder coated
rods or electrodes placed in a holder that is arced against the
base metal. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - T |
| TIG Welding (GTAW or Gas Tungsten Arc Welding)
|
TIG
(Tungsten Inert Gas), this welding process combines
metals by heating them with a tungsten electrode which should not
become part of the completed weld. Filler metal is at times used
and argon inert gas or inert gas mixtures are used as shielding
gas. Consumables:
tungsten electrode, filler metal, shielding gas. |
| Three-Phase Circuit |
An electrical circuit transporting three cycles within a 360 degree
time period, and the cycles are 120 electrical degrees apart. |
| Torch |
A device used in the TIG
welding (GTAW) process to manage the position of the
electrode, to transfer current to the arc, and to direct the flow
of the shielding gas. |
| Touch Start |
A low-voltage, low-amperage arc starting procedure for TIG
welding (GTAW). The tungsten is contacted to the work piece;
when the tungsten is lifted away from the work piece an arc is established. |
| Tungsten |
Rare metallic element with extremely high melting point (3410o
Celsius). Used for manufacturing TIG electrodes. |
| Tack Weld |
A small weld made to hold parts of a welding
work piece in proper way until the final welds are made. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - U |
| Undercut |
Channels melted into the base metal adjacent to the toe or root
of a weld and left unfilled by weld metal. |
| Undercutting |
An undesirable crater at the edge of the weld caused by poor weaving
technique or extreme welding speed. |
| Upset |
A localized increase in volume in the part of a weld, resulting
by the application of pressure. |
| Upsetting Force |
The force applied at the welding surfaces in flash or upset
welding. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - V |
| Voltage |
Pressure or energy that pushes the electrons through a conductor.
Voltage does not flow, but causes current to flow. Voltage is sometimes
called electromotive force (EMF) or difference
in potential. |
| Voltage-Sensing Wire Feeder |
Feeder that operates from arc voltage produced by welding power
source. |
| Volt-Amp Curve |
Graph that illustrates the output characteristics of a welding
power source. Shows voltage and amperage capacity of a specific
machine. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - W |
| Weld Metal |
The electrode and base metal that is melted during welding. |
| Weld Transfer |
Method by which metal is changed from the wire to the molten puddle.
Several methods are used in MIG welding; they are:
short circuit transfer, spray arc transfer, globular transfer, buried
arc transfer, and pulsed arc transfer. |
| Wire Feed Speed |
Refers to the speed and quantity of filler metal fed into a weld
and it is expressed in mm/s or in/min. Generally the higher the
wire feed speed, the higher the amperage. |
| Workpiece Connection |
A way to fasten the work lead (work cable) to the work (metal
to be welded on). Also, the point at which the connection is made.
One type of work connection is made with a modifiable clamp. |
| Workpiece Lead |
The conductor cable or electrical conductor which is between the
arc welding machine and the work. |
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| Welding
Dictionary - X |
| X-RAY |
A radiographic test method used to detect internal faults in a
weld. |
Welding
Dictionary
