MIG Welding Techniques and Tips to Make it Perfect:
Introduction:
MIG welding is just another form of welding techniques used in today's market for heavy manufacturing. It is not as complicated as TIG welding to learn and perform. However, you still need to focus upon what you are learning and practice harder to perform MIG welding in order to get good results. There are several factors you ought to consider when it comes to MIG welding. As a beginner you need to have some kind of basic background knowledge to learn more or understand in detail and to practice the art as well. Welding is the art of joining two or more metal pieces with the help of a molten solution which forms the bond once it solidifies as it cools down.
Initially as the procedure involves tremendous and heat and light energy, the molten solution has its state in such a form and it is highly hot. The concept in the larger picture seems simple and there is nothing more to it. But if proper attention is not given you are most likely to end up with a poor quality weld which isn't sturdy enough. If such a product is put to use in our daily activities the consequences cannot be measured but it can be stated to be worse without any doubts for sure.
MIG Welding:
MIG welding is the abbreviation for Metal Inert Gas welding. It is also abbreviated as GMAW which stands for Gas Metal Arc Welding. It can be performed in both semi-automatic and automatic forms. It is an arc welding process in which a continuous wire electrode and shielding gas are fed through a welding gun in order to perform the art of welding. The materials used for performing the same are also consumable in the process. The purpose of the shielding gas is the same in all welding procedures and techniques. It is to protect the welding area from contamination. The shielding gas is made up of inert gas such as argon or helium. Argon is found predominant under all cases of welding as it can weld almost anything and everything. The current supply for performing MIG welding can be in both A/C (Alternating Current) as well as D/C (Direct Current) forms.
However it should be a constant supply and shouldn't be regulated in between to get a better yield which is both structurally and cosmetically correct and sturdy. In GMAW there are four primary methods for producing the metal in order to weld. They are Globular, Short Circuiting, Spray and Pulsed Spray techniques. All of them have their own pros and cons and distinctive properties which should be chosen based upon your requirements and application. If you choose wisely it will be very advantageous accordingly without a doubt.
Originally MIG was used for welding aluminum only. However, during the latter half of 19th century it was also used for welding other metals and alloys mainly because of the MIG welding lower welding time when compared to other welding types and techniques. Now it is the most commonly preferred welding technique by many welding industries for its versatility, speed and relative ease of adapting to the process of robotic automation.
The Technique:
Basically there are two kinds of MIG welding styles or techniques employed in the industry today. You have the forehand welding technique and the backhand welding technique. As usual each of them has their own pros and cons. Before we analyze them let us look into the common procedure used in MIG welding.
Common Procedure:
The whole procedure entirely depends upon your posture and hand control and the feed you give in order to accomplish the task of welding. Let us look into how you are supposed to perform in order to make more accurate welds.
1. Use your natural hand at all cost. If you are a right hander the trigger area of the gun should be kept in your right hand with the ability to swivel your wrist. Welding is not just about welding in a straight line. And thus you need to be flexible in terms of how you feed the weld and work swiftly and smoothly while you are at it.
2. The bend of the gun should be in between your pointer finger and the thumb while the top of your hand must be rested on the table in order to provide the necessary grip.
3. Use your left hand for rotating and securing the nozzle part of the gun.
4. Use the right hand to create the necessary MIG weld beads.
5. Use your left hand to glide along the table to follow the weld down to the joint. See to that under all circumstances your arms are relaxed and well rested while you are at it.
6. Hand Speed is very important as it regulates your feed and allows you to create precise welds. Always relax as you start to weld initially. Weld a small circle to close off the end of the material.
7. Maintain a comfortable pace while welding in terms of hand speed. It shouldn't be too rapid or too slow at any cost. The more comfortable you are while you perform it the better your weld is most likely to be.
8. Keep pushing the puddle pad while you do it using a comfortable pace and watch the beads create a nice round puddle.
Forehand vs. Backhand:
Forehand is a technique where the MIG welder pushes the puddle and keep the arc slightly ahead of the puddle. MIG Gun is pointed in the direction of the traversing path. The angle of the gun can be anywhere between 5 degrees and 35 degrees towards the direction of the travel.
Backhand on the other hand is a technique where the MIG welder does the exact opposite. The MIG gun is pointed towards the weld while travelling away from it. Forehand is more commonly used than the latter as it produces shallow but wide penetrating weld that is flat in appearance which is what most weld joints today requires.
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