Northland Fastening Systems provides high-quality stud welding services, stud welding tools for sale and rent, and every stud welding accessory you need to get the job done. From food-grade welding to structure-strength sheet metal welding using both drawn arc and capacitor discharge (CD) welding, NFS has the right equipment for the job.
Because stud welding is such an efficient, effective, and powerful tool in a wide range of industries, it’s one of the most critical operations in many fabrication projects. Both drawn arc stud welding and CD stud welding have a foundational use in different types of welding projects, but more and more technicians are utilizing state-of-the-art CD welding units for rapid welding purposes.
CD stud welding is, for all intents and purposes, a form of arc welding. In comparison to drawn arc stud welding, however, it’s much faster, performing a pre-calibrated weld in milliseconds that leaves little-to-no mark on the opposite side of the weld surface.
CD Stud Welding Step by Step
With the right tools, performing CD stud welding is a straightforward process for welders of all skill levels. Most CD welding units offer pre-programmed settings for a weld cycle, or simplistic ways of calibrating a preset voltage depending on the stud materials and size as well as the material of the weld surface. The process goes as follows:
- The stud welding unit is calibrated to suit the situation.
- A stud is loaded onto the gun tip.
- The stud welding gun is positioned at the desired weld point.
- The welding operation is triggered, sending energy stored in the capacitors to be discharged onto the stud in a semi-automatic arc.
- The heat of this energy essentially vaporizes the tip of the stud and creates an ionization path.
- The path opens up a full flow of current arcing across the stud and melting the metal of the stud tip.
- Pressure from the welder then forces the molten tip of the stud onto the weld surface.
- This pressure and the cooling metal forms a strong bond between the stud and the weld surface.
CD stud welding doesn’t use a ferrule like its cousin, drawn arc stud welding. This means the weld is performed much more quickly, but the nature of the weld limits the size of the stud. CD welding is suited to stud diameters from 14 gauge up to 3/8”, there are no limitations on stud length. Materials that can be welded using CD stud units include stainless steel, mild steel, brass, and aluminum. Although CD stud welding is not the best choice for heavy-duty purposes, it has a prevalent use in smaller scale, rapid, efficient production. Its weld connection is stronger than the stud material itself, and it can be more easily automated than other types of welding.
To learn more about CD stud welding and the services or products we provide that are fitted to that operation or others, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770 or request a quote today.