Welding is one of the older manufacturing operations still used extensively throughout industries today, with the first types of forge welding dating back to the Bronze and Iron Ages in the Middle East and Europe. Today’s modern welding techniques vary greatly in their processes and results. Stud welding, for example, is a much different process than resistance welding, but each type of welding has its place in the manufacturing world.
When it comes to stud welding, industries from shipbuilding to food-grade equipment fabrication all value its benefits and capabilities. Not only does stud welding create a connection point stronger that the stud itself, it’s also a rapid fastening system with clean results.
No matter what industry you work in, you can count on Northland Fastening Systems to provide a complete supply of tools, studs, accessories, and everything else you might need for the stud welding process.
While stud welding is sometimes confused for spot welding, they are two very different operations. Spot welding actually falls into the category of resistance welding or resistance spot welding (RSW), whereas stud welding is an arc welding operation.
Spot Welding
Resistance spot welding uses heat to join metals together. That heat is generated by resistance to electrical current. The heat brings the two pieces of metal being joined together to a range where they can be connected with high-pressure systems. The metals technically never melt to a molten state during a spot-welding process. Because of this, spot welding is more like a forging process. The metals do not intermix in the same way they do during a stud welding operation. Spot welding has limited uses because it works well with few materials. Primarily, spot welding is used with low-carbon steel, but it can be used to form brittle connections with high-carbon steel and aluminum alloys.
Stud Welding
Stud welding uses a drawn arc or capacitor discharge (CD) arc to generate heat at the connection point. The metals used are heated to a molten state and the metal molecules fuse together to form a strong connection. Whether you’re working with drawn arc, CD, or short cycle stud welding, the high heat involved can be used to weld on a much broader range of surfaces than spot welding. Stud welding also doesn’t require the high-pressure equipment that spot welding does and can be used even when access to the reverse side of the base material cannot be accessed.
Overall, the stud welding process is a more flexible, efficient, and powerful choice for many production floors. To learn more about the capabilities of stud welding, contact Northland Fastening Systems at (651) 730-7770, or request a quote online to get started with us today.