Welding is no joke! Using welding machine incorrectly and without safety equipment can be extremely dangerous.
The welding technique is very old and very useful for different areas of the market. Welders have essential functions in industry, in the naval area, in the automotive area, in metallurgy, among other segments that need to make connections between metal elements.
It is a profession that is in need of labor in the labor market since professionals who deal with welding are increasingly in demand. So, if you intend to become an excellent welding professional, be sure to follow this post!
After all, how to use the welding machine correctly?
Before the first steps, understand that there are several types of welds and different types of machines. There are MIG, and TIG welding models, each of which requires equipment.
It is worth learning about these processes in the first place:
MIG welding
This is a welding process widely used in the market, as its production capacity is optimized.
Widely seen in industries, MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding uses an electric welding arc between the metal surface or part, and the uncoated electrode (a type of wire-like consumable) that will perform the joining of materials by heating and melting from a continuous feeder.
In this way, the electric welding machine arc continuously fuses the wire as it is fed into the melting pool that is making the connection.
MAG welding
The MAG (Metal Active Gas) type is similar to the previous one, with a difference in the element that protects the weld metal. While the MIG weld preserves the metal part with inert gas, MAG forms an atmosphere with an active gas flow to achieve this protection.
Another distinction is that MAG welding uses coated electrodes instead of uncoated ones.
It is interesting to mention, also, that there is a MIG / MAG welding process, which mixes the gases to weld different metal alloys. For this model, it is necessary to have a welding machine of MIG / MAG specification.
TIG welding process
The welding called TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas ) performs the welding through an electric arc, however, the used electrode is a non-consumable based on tungsten. Commonly called addition metal. The fusion part also has inert gas protection, as in the MIG process.
It is an efficient procedure for difficult materials, such as aluminum and magnesium, widely used in the aerospace and aviation industry, that is, they are highly professional welds, not recommended for beginners.
Practical tips for welding beginners
If you are starting out, it is important to know that the welding process is dangerous, so do not give up on personal protective equipment, such as gloves, welding mask and welding boots.
Be careful and subtly in your movements when welding!
The movements in the welding process must be subtle, to the point of barely touching the surface, as the electrode can easily stick to the metal surface.
In addition, they must make the micro weld points in a standard way, so that the alloy is homogeneous. In the beginning, it will not be easy, however, with the help of a qualified professional, just train to improve yourself.
Another tips is to try to understand the technique of maintaining the welding arc for welding, one of the greatest difficulties for those who are starting.
Learn how to use amperage levels correctly
Understand that there are different amperage levels and that you need to adjust your welding machine according to the thickness of the metal parts you weld.
If you use a higher amperage than necessary, you can pierce the plate instead of soldering it. The gap between the weld points is also essential to avoid damaging the part.
The ideal is to give an interval of 2 seconds, between the attacks, with the welding arc on the surface to be welded. Otherwise, when the intervals are not done correctly, the material may melt.
Types of work
It is customary to weld iron or steel for leisure activities. In this context, you can turn to an arc welding machine. To repair your plumbing yourself, you can take a gas torch, because the pipes are often copper on old houses. You can also, for regular work take an MMA inverter.
Do you have to carry out regular maintenance work on agricultural machinery, masonry or in the framework of Civil Engineering? An autonomous group or an MMA welding machine is the device for you! For automotive welding: TIG, MAG or semi-auto welding machines are the welding machines that you can choose for all welding work on vehicles. They make it possible to make fine and precise welds.
Thicknesses and type of assembly
Thick metal or thin sheets cannot be welded in the same way. You could do worse than better. As we said, the TIG welding machine specializes in precision work, for the automotive field, but also for certain artistic works or for quality work.
TIG makes it possible to work on iron, but it is not its primary vocation. It is more suitable for working on metals such as aluminum, stainless steel, or even titanium. The other ways of welding are to be reserved for repair work for domestic use, but also for agricultural machines, etc.
Heating power
The heating power is expressed in amperes. But unless you are a professional and want to work on large parts, a 40 to 130 amp welding machine will allow you to carry out all of your metal smelting work. To know how a welding machine works, you have to understand the duty factor. It works inversely proportional to the intensity you choose.
For example, a 60% duty cycle means that the welding machine will allow 6 minutes of welding for 4 minutes of cooling. The walk factor is expressed in amperes against a percentage (60% for 100Ah, to use the example again). If it displays 100%, it means that the welding machine does not need rest time, it can operate continuously, without overheating the device.
With or without gas?
The welding stations operate either on a gas cylinder or on the mains. Power devices are often lighter. This criterion is decisive, with regard to the use that will be made of the welding station. Welding with TIG, but also MIG and MAG will depend on a bottle, for example, which will be connected to the torch. A solenoid valve controls the flow and pressure of the device.
