The Applications and Uses of MIG Welding
15 December 2022Different industries use many processes to generate their needed parts and products. One of the processes that they often maximise is welding.
Welding is a fabrication process wherein high heat is applied to metals or thermoplastics to join and melt them. Once the parts are melted together, they are cooled to cause fusion. Welds can be generated through three main elements: a heat source, a shielding, and a filler material. The heat source can be an electric arc, a flame, pressure, or friction. The shielding, alternatively, is a substance that protects the welds from the air. A filler material, ultimately, joins two workpieces together during the welding process.
Many types of welding can be utilised by industries. But one that stands out the most is metal inert gas or MIG welding.
MIG Welding Quick Overview and Benefits
MIG welding is an arc welding process that takes advantage of a continuous solid wire electrode. This element is heated and fed into the welding gun, a tool that simultaneously feeds a shielding gas to protect the weld pool from harmful contaminants from the surroundings.
During MIG welding, the arc is expected to hit the end of the workpiece and the wire electrode to effectively melt them and generate a weld pool. The weld pool is then protected from the surroundings by a shielding gas, which is fed by a nozzle surrounding the wire. The wire, throughout MIG welding, acts as the primary heat source and the filler material for the welding joint. It may be solid or cored.
The working principles of MIG welding allow the process to generate parts and products very quickly since it utilises a continuously fed electrode. It can also produce items with great quality as the process is flux-free. This type of welding can even work well with almost all materials, making it easier for industries to craft diverse parts and products.
Processing Materials with MIG Welding
MIG welding can process many materials. Some of these materials are as follows.
• Steel: One of the materials that MIG welding can process is steel. MIG welding can generate a wide array of lighting fixtures, stairs, rails, furniture pieces, and other materials out of steel, particularly carbon steel. MIG welding can also process stainless steel.
• Aluminium: MIG welding can also be used in processing aluminium. This material must be handled properly so it can be welded without getting contaminated. When processing aluminium workpieces, the oxide layer from their surfaces should be removed first.
• Magnesium: Magnesium is another material that can be processed with MIG welding. It uses almost the same welding settings as aluminium. Magnesium, however, may work well with an AZ610 wire to make the welding successful.
MIG Welding Major Industrial Applications
One of the industries that can take advantage of MIG welding is the manufacturing industry. MIG welding allows it to generate small home décor parts to large construction materials. The construction industry also uses MIG welding in creating stairs, handrails, and ladders.
The automotive industry can also benefit from MIG welding as the process can be carried out to repair vehicle exhaust and other parts. The aerospace and shipping industries can, ultimately, use MIG welding to build or repair planes, helicopters, and shipping boats. If you need MIG welding for your applications, you can contact us at Kinetic Engineering.
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