Stud Welding Process
There exist two styles of stud welding used in the construction market. They are Drawn Arc Welding and Capacitor Discharge Welding.
Drawn Arc Stud Welding
Arc Welding Studs are designed to weld large diameter fasteners to rough, thicker base metals. Arc studs can be a variety of shapes, where one end of the fastener is designed for arc welding. Arc Welding Studs are manufactured from mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.
| 1) |
The weld gun is positioned over the base material and the main gun spring is partially compressed. |
| 2) |
The trigger is pressed and the stud lifts off the base, drawing an arc. The arc melts the end of the weld stud and the base material below. The arc shield (ferrule) concentrates the heat below the weld stud and contains the molten metal within the weld zone. |
| 3) |
The main spring plunges the weld stud down into the molten pool of metal in the base material. The cycle is completed in less than a second and the resulting weld bond develops the full strength of the fastener in the weld zone. |
| 4) |
The weld gun is withdrawn from the weld stud leaving and the ferrule. The ferrule is broken away and discarded. |
Capacitor Discharge Stud Welding
Capacitor Discharge (CD) stud welding is commonly used to weld smaller diameter studs to thin base metals. Since the entire weld cycle is completed almost instantaneously, welds can be made without pronounced distortion, burn-through or reverse side discoloration.
| 1) |
The weld gun and stud is positioned against the work plate. No ferrule is needed. |
| 2) |
Stored energy discharged through special weld "timing" tip and the stud starts downward. |
| 3) |
The stud is forced downward into the pool of molten metal. |
| 4) |
Metal solidifies and weld is completed in a split second. |
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Strut
