Metallic Inert Gas (MIG) Welding Machine
Metallic Inert Gas (MIG) welding is an incredibly versatile welding technique that is widely used in many industries due to its excellent portability, speed, and ability to weld a wide range of metals. It is a process of welding in which an electric arc is used to heat up two pieces of metal, joined by a consumable electrode, and joined together by inert gas to create a weld. MIG welding creates clean, strong, and reliable welds with very minimal slag buildup and is ideal for production line welding.
The MIG welding machine is composed of a power unit, a welding gun and a handler. The power unit is responsible for supplying resupplied power to the welding machine and typically consists of a transformer, rectifier, generator or electronic components. The welding gun is the device responsible for creating the thermal energy needed to form a weld and is made of copper, bronze or stainless steel. The handler offers secure and comfortable means for the welder to control the welding gun and the power unit.
To perform MIG welding, a special wire is used as a filler material and is fed through a consumable electrode into a welding torch. As the current flows, an electric arc is created and is blown away from the weld by an inert gas shield. This inert gas should be free of moisture and oxygen, as oxygen would react with the heated metal and create an oxidized slag layer. This slag layer would reduce the weld strength and impact the appearance of the finished weld.
The type of inert gas used during this process is very important, as it must be capable of shielding the weld against air contamination, removing the thermal by-products created by the weld, and preventing spatter caused by the welding process. Typical gases used in MIG welding include argon, helium, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, or combinations of these gases, with argon and helium being the most common.
MIG welders come in a variety of sizes to accommodate varying weld requirements and are simple to operate. With the correct set up and welding practice, MIG welders can enable consistent and effective welding. This is why many find it appealing for use in industrial production lines and a wide variety of workshops.
MIG welders offer several distinct advantages over more traditional welding techniques. To begin with, MIG welding is highly efficient and capable of producing welds at high speed and with minimal operator fatigue. Additionally, the process does not require the same high levels of skill as other welding processes, making it a much more operator-friendly choice for some applications. Finally, MIG welding does not need to be conducted in a clean environment since the inert gas shield removes the contaminants from the weld.
While MIG welding is a remarkable welding process, it is not without its drawbacks. One of the main drawbacks is that MIG welding requires the use of shielding gas which needs to be bought, stored, and replaced regularly. This means that MIG welding can be more expensive and time-consuming than other weld techniques, such as stick welding. Additionally, MIG welders are not well suited for all applications due to the limited positioning capability of the weld gun and the poor penetration of the weld.
In summary, MIG welding is a popular welding process that offers a variety of benefits including portability, speed, and ease of use. It is a cost-effective and reliable choice for many metal joinery applications involving carbon and stainless steel, aluminum and other metal alloys. However, while it can provide unparalleled benefits, it is not without its drawbacks, such as high costs and limited positioning. Despite these drawbacks, many people choose to invest in a MIG welding machine and purchase shielding gases as their chosen welding process.
