Stud welding is a multi-faceted manufacturing operation that can be used in many different settings for a wide range of results. If you plan to work with stud welding as a fastening system, you’ll have many factors to consider before choosing the exact tools you need. The primary factor you need to take into account is whether you’ll be using CD stud welding or drawn arc stud welding.
No matter which one you choose, you can rely on Northland Fastening Systems to provide the tools and technical support you need to accomplish any stud welding process.
Both drawn arc and CD stud welding processes have their own various factors to consider and navigate through to achieve an end result of a successful, strong weld connection. When it comes to the CD stud welding process, there are five main factors to take into account for any project:
- Size: Before starting your stud welding process, you need to have the right size studs for the job. If your job requires stud dimensions larger than ⅜”, you may need to consider working with drawn arc welding tools because CD studs typically don’t exceed that dimension.
- Surface: The surface you weld to must also be considered. CD stud welding performs excellently with plate or sheet surfaces, but it can become difficult to create a strong connection with a rough surface because the weld time is much shorter than with other stud welding processes. As with all welding, your surface must also be clear of contaminants like rust, oil, or dirt.
- Time: CD stud welding is a very rapid fastening operation. Arcs are generated for as little as 0.01 seconds. Because of this, the timing and penetration of the weld is critical. To create a successful weld, you need to correctly calibrate your tool. This calibration depends on the material you’re welding to, the dimensions of the stud, and the material of the stud.
- Position: To create a successful weld and a clean, well-made product, you need to know exactly where you’ll place the weld point. Even a millimeter shift can affect the quality of your welded product. Many welders will mark the point of the weld with a punch mark in the center of the area of the weld, but even this can be inaccurate because, if the punch is too deep, you can shorten the stud length by as much as 50%.
- Materials: Welding materials are also key in creating a successful weld. This includes the surface material, any surface plating or coatings, the weld materials, and how the physical properties will react to a weld. Some materials, like high-carbon steel, are too hard to penetrate with a common CD welding stud.
For any stud welding process, these kinds of factors and the properties of the materials and tools you’ll use are important. To learn more about CD and drawn arc welding, contact Northland Fastening Systems today at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote online.