In many manufacturing industries, stud welding is often relied upon for its ability to create powerful fastening systems quickly and cleanly. The industries that the stud welding process is utilized in range from food grade manufacturing to composite large-scale construction.
As a type of arc welding, the stud welding process is capable of forming connection points that are stronger than the stud or base material. There are several types of stud welding processes, including drawn arc, capacitor discharge (CD), and short cycle welding.
At Northland Fastening Systems, we provide a comprehensive supply of tools, studs, and accessories for each stud welding process as well as the expert advice of our own technicians.
Compared to other types of arc welding, stud welding is a relatively straightforward process with few bells and whistles required to perform a strong weld. For example, technicians performing other welding processes require significant personal protective equipment and often shielding gas, slag, vapor, or other weld protective measures must be taken. The stud welding process is designed to be performed rapidly, easily portable in the field, and require only basic training for the welding technician.
CD and short cycle welding in particular are streamlined, fast operations compared to many other welding techniques. However, they are only suitable for a “lightweight” range of duties and are limited to smaller studs and overall moderate applications. Drawn arc welding, on the other hand, can be used in large-scale applications like composite construction for bridges and buildings. Because drawn arc welding utilizes additives like shielding gas and ceramic ferrules that other arc welding processes use for various operations, it’s capable of installing larger studs and heavy-duty manufacturing.
Typically, drawn arc welding uses a ceramic ferrule ring to contain the heat generated at the weld point and a flux tip to control the melt temperature. Using these additives in the stud welding process helps control the fusion and create a clean weld result. Welders can also use shielding gas in the place of a ferrule ring.
Shielding gases like argon, carbon dioxide, and helium are inert, and when applied during the welding process will protect the weld from air contaminants like water vapor and oxygen that would otherwise create a porous weld prone to cracking and corroding. When applied in a drawn arc stud welding process, shielding gas also helps control the arc, prevent splatter, vary penetration depth, and more.