Arc Welding Process - MAG Welding
Metal active gas welding / MAG welding is the most common welding method in Europe, U.S. and Japan. The high productivity offered by Metal active gas welding and the fact that it is simple to automate have contributed to its popularity.
The principle of Metal active gas welding is that a metallic wire is fed through the welding gun and melted in an arc. The wire serves the dual purpose of acting as the current-carrying electrode and the weld metal filler wire. Electrical energy is supplied by a welding power source.
A shielding gas that flows through the gas nozzle protects the arc and the pool of molten material. The shielding gas is either inert (MIG welding) or active (MAG welding). In this context, an inert gas is one that does not react with the molten material. Examples of gases in this category are argon and helium. Active gases, on the other hand, participate in the process between the arc and the molten material. Argon containing a small proportion of carbon dioxide or oxygen is an example of an active gas.
MAG welding requires the use of an active gas (i.e. carbon dioxide and oxygen). CO 2 is a more commonly used shortening of MAG welding gas.
Metal active gas welding is the most commonly used arc-welding technique for sheet metal welding, mainly of steel. The wire electrode serves both as filler material and as arc electrode. The molten material is protected from oxygen by chemical reactions between an active gas, like CO2, and additives in the wire electrode. Typical applications for MAG welding include bicycle frames construction and automobile repair.
Related Topics