The various types of stud welding can be utilized in a broad range of manufacturing applications, and they cover quite a comprehensive amount of parts and components. From electrical enclosures and small-scale food industry equipment to construction equipment and sheet metal manufacturing, stud welding has an essential production use. When you partner with Northland Fastening Systems, you have access to our complete stud welding services as well as the tools, equipment, and accessories we provide. For both drawn arc stud welding and CD stud welding, you can trust NFS to meet all your needs with quality service and products.
When it comes to differentiating and understanding the types of stud welding we provide services and equipment for, there are a few points to take into consideration:
- Drawn arc stud welding utilizes a different welding process than CD stud welding. Learn more about the differences from this NFS blog post.
- CD stud welding is often more suited for welding thinner materials without leaving a mark on the reverse side of the weld spot.
- Drawn arc stud welding is more suited to welding heavier materials with wider weld spots allowing structural strength.
- CD welding is faster and requires less energy than drawn arc stud welding.
- Drawn arc welding is stronger than CD stud welding, and it can be used in large-scale construction applications.
NFS offers studs and other accessories for all types of stud welding including a variant of drawn arc stud welding called short cycle welding. Short cycle welding is a kind of drawn arc stud welding that can be performed faster than the standard process and is somewhat of a compromise between drawn arc and CD stud welding.
Here’s how it works:
Unlike typical drawn arc stud welding, short cycle welding does not use a ceramic ferrule to contain the molten metal at the weld point. Short cycle welding is performed by creating a pilot arc that melts the end of the stud and then connects the stud to the base material using pressure between the base and stud alone. This weld occurs in 10-100 milliseconds and can use CD studs depending on the welding circumstances. Basic necessities for the application of short cycle welding include:
- Three-phase and 480-volt power supply
- Threaded CD studs like those offered in the NFS store
- A base material thicker than 1.7 mm at minimum
The benefits of short cycle stud welding are many when used in the correct application. Short cycle welding is faster, uses lower-cost equipment, provides a higher tolerance weld point on irregular or coated base materials, and is often more convenient than typical drawn arc or CD stud welding. Short cycle stud welding is also more easily automated than other stud welding operations.
To learn more about short cycle stud welding and other stud welding processes, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770, or request a quote to get started in a partnership with us today.