Resistance spot welding is a process is which electrical current is used to create enough heat between two metal surfaces to cause them to melt and form a weld connection. Typically, resistance spot welding (RSW) is used to join two metal plates together to form a single piece. It is a common technique and is used in many industries from automotive to electronics.
RSW is a process that is relatively fast and reliable. The cost of the equipment can be relatively low compared to traditional welding, although the quality of the weld is usually not as good as a higher end welding technique. The resistance spot welding process has been used in industry since the 1930s and is a very popular method of joining materials.
Unlike traditional welding, which uses a flame to heat and fuse metals together, RSW uses electrical resistance. The resistance is produced when two pieces of metal are brought into contact with an electrode. In this configuration, an electrical current is sent through the metal and the resistance between the two pieces causes them to heat up. When the temperature reaches a certain point, the two pieces of metal melt together to form a bond.
The electrodes used in RSW are usually pointed or shaped in some way in order to concentrate the electrical current on the areas that it is meant to join. This helps to ensure that the correct amount of heat is delivered to those areas and that the weld will be strong. The shape of the electrode also ensures that the current is evenly distributed, meaning that the weld produced is of a consistent quality.
The advantage of RSW is that the process is not only quick, but reliable. The process is repeatable and provides a much more consistent and accurate weld than could be achieved with a traditional welding process. It is also a relatively low-cost technique and does not require an extremely skilled operator to perform the weld, meaning that the process can be automated for a relatively low price.
RSW can be used in a variety of situations and materials, although it is most commonly used on thin sheet metals. It is typically used to join metals such as steel, aluminum, and copper alloys, although it can also be used to join some non-metallic materials such as plastics and variably reinforced composites.
Overall, resistance spot welding is a reliable, low-cost process that is used in a variety of industries to quickly and accurately join two pieces of metal together. It has been used by industry since the 1930s and offers a consistently strong bond with a minimal amount of operator intervention. The process is also easily repeatable and automated, meaning that it can be used in production lines without the need for significant investment.
