There are over 70 different welding processes, and most of them can be divided into one of five types, with each group containing subtypes. The International Organization for Standardization groups welding techniques into the following categories:
- Arc Welding
- Resistance Welding
- Pressure / Solid-State Welding
- Gas / Oxy-Fuel Welding
- Energy Beam Welding
Arc Welding
Arc welding creates an electric arc using an electrode in order to heat, melt and join metals. There are 26 types of arc welding processes, divided into six subtypes:
- Metal Arc Welding Without Gas Protection
- Submerged Arc Welding
- Gas Metal Arc Welding
- Gas Tungsten Arc Welding
- Plasma Arc Welding
- Other Arc Welding Processes
Resistance Welding
Resistance welding heats, melts and joins metals using pressure and a strong electrical current. This process is sometimes called Electric Resistance Welding (ERW). There are 15 types of resistance welding processes, divided into seven subtypes:
- Resistance Spot Welding
- Resistance Seam Welding
- Projection Welding
- Flash Welding
- Upset Welding
- Resistance Stud Welding
- High-Frequency Upset Welding
Solid-State Welding
Solid-State Welding uses temperature and pressure to join materials without reaching a melting point temperature. The first known welding technique was forge welding, also called fire welding. This solid-state welding process can be traced all the way back to the Bronze Age. There are 23 types of solid-state welding processes, divided into eight subtypes:
- Ultrasonic Welding
- Friction Welding
- Friction Stir Welding
- Impact / Shock Welding
- Diffusion Welding
- Pressure Gas Welding
- Cold Welding
- Hot Pressure Welding
Energy Beam Welding
Energy Beam Welding heats, melts and joins materials using a high energy beam. Energy beam welding includes some of the latest advancements in modern welding techniques. There are six types of energy beam welding processes, divided into two subtypes:
- Electron Beam Welding
- Laser Beam Welding
Oxy-Fuel Gas Welding
Oxy-Fuel Gas Welding uses a combination of oxygen and a fuel gas in order to heat, melt, and join metals. There are three types of Oxy-Fuel Gas Welding techniques:
- Oxyacetylene Welding
- Oxypropane Welding
- Oxyhydrogen Welding
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