Answer: Classification of Welding
1. Arc welding
a. Carbon Arc Welding;
b. Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)
c. Submerged Arc Welding (SAW)
d. Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG, GMAW)
e. Tungsten Inert Gas Arc Welding (TIG, GTAW)
f. Electro slag Welding (ESW)
g. Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)
2. Resistance Welding (RW)
a. Spot Welding (RSW)
b. Resistance Butt Welding (UW) :
1) Flash butt welding 2)Upset butt welding
c. Seam welding
d. Projection welding
e. Percussion welding
3. Gas Welding (GW)
a. Oxyacetylene Welding (OAW)
b. Oxyhydrogen Welding (OHW)
c. Air acetylene gas welding
4. Solid State Welding (SSW)
a. Forge Welding (FOW)
b. Cold Welding (CW)
c. Friction Welding (FRW)
d. Explosive Welding (EXW)
e. Diffusion Welding (DFW)
f. Ultrasonic Welding (USW)
5. Thermit Welding (TW)
6. Newer welding process
a. Electron Beam Welding (EBW) b. Laser
Factors affecting selection of welding processes:
1. material grade, material thickness, design, weld property requirement
2. equipment type, edge preparation design
3. tip / work piece distance, electrode angle
4. current, arc voltage, welding speed
5. Availability of equipment
6. Repetitiveness of the operation
7. Quality requirements (base metal penetration, consistency, etc.)
8. Location of work
9. Materials to be joined i.e. base metal composition
10. Appearance of the finished product
11. Size of the parts to be joined
12. Time available for work
13. Skill experience of workers
14. Cost of materials
15. Code or specification requirements
16. Mechanical properties desired in joints