What is Spot Welding and Why is it so Important?

by | May 2, 2017 | Metal Fabrication

Spot welding in Cleveland is a different kind of bonding method than another welding. It’s not hard to do and is very effective for some metals. Let’s look closer at the process to discover its importance in the production and fabrication industries today.

If you want to make spot welds, you need a special machine. The equipment looks like a box with a clamp handle and two electrodes which come to a point. To use the welder, you clamp two pieces of metal together and place them between the electrodes. Next, pull the lever down, and the electrodes come together and lock in place. Electric current flows through the metals into the spot where the two electrodes meet. This creates a lot of resistance and heat in one small area, bonding the metals together.

Spot welding does not need sticks or special electrodes which melt. This makes it a very clean process. In fact, many welders in Cleveland like this method because the heat doesn’t travel to all parts of the metal and it stays in one place.

To make effective spot welds, you need to use the right amount of electricity. For example, if the current is too low the weld may not properly bond and could break over time. When you use too much energy, you could burn a whole through the metals. These problems are easily solved by making adjustments on the welder.

Applications for Spot Welding

Spot welds are commonly used on sheet metal in Cleveland. They also work well on wire mesh materials and any metal which is thin. Thicker metals are not usually welded this way because the heat transfers easily into other parts of the metal. It’s possible to spot weld aluminum but it takes a lot more heat, and this uses more energy. Also, aluminum needs special welding equipment which is expensive.

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