From this article you will learn how TIG, MIG-MAG and MMA welding are deciphered, we will find out their main differences.
In addition, there is no hard and fast classification in welding, so it can be difficult to distinguish between welding methods. For this reason, most foreign manufacturers use English abbreviations recognized by the public. In this article we will look at TIG, MIG-MAG and MMA welding.
Benefits of TIG welding is the absence of metal spatter, good control of the arc parameters, accurate welding seam and the ability to weld parts of small thickness. The downside is the presence of a gas cylinder, low productivity and high requirements for the selection of the operator.
Advantages of MIG-MAG welding with gas is high performance, little smoke and no slag to be removed from the weld. The disadvantages are the use of a gas cylinder and limited outdoor use.
Flux-cored welding has the advantage of no gas bottles, always ready to use and great for outdoor work. The disadvantages are the high cost of flux-cored wire and the need to remove slag from the weld metal.
It is worth noting that MIG soldering allows you to work at lower temperatures. than with MIG welding. This allows the connected parts to be deformed to a lesser degree. The materials are bonded using a solder material melt. MIG soldering has found wide application in body repair, because the zinc coating of steel is not damaged with this method of joining the metal.
It is sometimes difficult for a non-specialist to understand the terms and definitions used in welding. The complexity is additionally caused by the fact that there are no rigidly regulated and classified methods and techniques. However, manufacturers of welding equipment and materials adhere to generally accepted English abbreviations, which will be discussed in this article.
MMA (RDS)
MMA(Manual Metal Arc) - manual arc welding with piece (coated) electrodes using or. The technical literature of the Soviet era operated with the designation RDS.
The welding process occurs due to the melting of a metal rod - an electrode coated with a special coating, which have their own. Its main purpose is to protect the weld pool from air, preventing metal oxidation. The molten rod forms a weld, and the used coating remains as slag.
Welding with coated electrode
RDS is possible both on direct and alternating current. With direct current, there are two options for connecting the ground clamp and the electrode holder, so there is welding on. Alternating current does not have such a feature - how to connect the electrode in this case does not matter. The above will help you choose a device that will last for many years.
Since the MMA method is the most popular due to its simplicity and relatively inexpensive equipment, you should definitely familiarize yourself with the issue.
TIG(WIG) or RADS
TIG(Tungsten Inert Gas) - arc welding technology in an inert gas environment with a non-consumable electrode. Tungsten - (English Tungsten) is a very refractory metal with a melting point of about 3500 C, so it is the basis for the production of this kind of electrodes. Sometimes you can find other variations of this method:
- WIG (Wolfram Inert Gas) - the name is derived from the German spelling;
- GTA (Gas Tungsten Arc) - this abbreviation omits the chemical interaction of the shielding gas.
The choice of materials is carried out according to, denoting the types of metals to be welded, as well as welding modes.
Because the electrode is non-consumable, the process of argon welding occurs according to a different scenario:
- an electric arc is initiated between the end of the electrode and the metal to be welded;
- the welding seam is filled by feeding a special filler material - a rod into the welding zone;
- the weld pool is protected by a gas cloud.
TIG welding process
Protective inert gas, i.e. gas, the molecules of which do not chemically interact during welding with the base and filler material, in this case argon acts. That is why the name “” or RADS was assigned to it.
It is worth noting that this name is not entirely correct, because. Other gases such as nitrogen, helium, and also gas mixtures can be used as shielding gases.
Argon can be used in consumable electrode welding - MIG method, which will be discussed below.
In the technical characteristics of welding equipment, in addition to the designation TIG, it is always supplemented with a mention of the type of welding current DC (Direct Current) - direct current or AC / DC (Alternating Current / Direct Current) - alternating / direct current. In this case, this is very important. For example, it is produced on alternating current.
MIG/MAG
MIG/MAG(Metal Inert / Active Gas) - a method of arc welding in a protective environment of an inert / active gas using a consumable electrode in the form of steel or other wire, depending on the type of metal being joined.
Schematic representation of the mig/mag method
By MIG or MAG welding is usually meant. The main objective of this method was the idea of creating an “endless electrode”, in order to thereby achieve significant welding productivity. After all, with the RDS method, you often have to change the electrode as it is used up, which in some cases is extremely inconvenient. As with TIG welding, shielding gases are used here.
The role of inert is usually argon and its mixtures, which is suitable, for example,. The active gas, i.e., interacting with the metal being welded in the process, is usually carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide). You may hear the phrase " " from the welder, implying the MAG method (MAG).
This method is the most common due to its increased productivity compared to MMA, and gives a better result as a weld. Based on feedback from experienced welders, it will help to decide on the choice of welding machine.
We hope that this article will help you understand the classification of the main welding methods, and will also be useful when choosing equipment and materials with English abbreviations.
To date, dozens of welding methods have been developed. The most common types are mig, mag, tig, and mma welding. All of them belong to the thermal class according to the method of obtaining energy for the welding process.
The thermal energy released during the formation of an electric arc makes it possible to weld any metal. The main heat is released in the arc itself due to the fact that its resistance is greater than the resistance of the electrode and the workpiece, so the melting occurs near the arc. This, in turn, leads to the formation of a weld pool, which, when cooled, provides a permanent connection.
MIG welding (MIG) is an international designation for the welding process of metals in an inert gas environment. Argon, helium or their mixtures are used as inert gases.
Gas is supplied from cylinders through high-pressure hoses to the burner. It displaces atmospheric air around the electric arc, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of oxygen on the welding joint.
The seam is high-quality and dense, without pores. The disadvantage of MIG welding is the high cost of inert gas. Argon costs 45 times and helium 156 times more than carbon dioxide.
MAG welding is an international designation for the welding process in an active gas environment. The most widely used active gases are carbon dioxide and nitrogen. Their function is the same as that of inert gases - protection from the oxygen of the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide in the weld area decomposes into oxygen and carbon monoxide, leading to detrimental effects such as weld porosity. To avoid this, it is necessary to use electrodes or filler wire mixed with manganese and silicon.
They bind the released oxygen and deoxidize the welding environment. Gases are stored in high-pressure cylinders; reduction gears are used for use. When using carbon dioxide, it is recommended to turn the cylinder upside down and release water vapor, only then start MAG welding.
With tungsten electrode
TIG welding is an international designation for the welding process of metals in an inert gas environment using a tungsten non-consumable electrode.
In Russia and the CIS, TIG welding is called argon-arc because of the inert gas used. Due to the constant length of the electrode, the welding process is greatly simplified, the absence of other impurities allows you to obtain seams of the highest quality.
Pulsed TIG welding is a variation of conventional TIG, but pulsed current is used instead of direct current. In some MAG TIG welding machines, this mode is present along with the main one.
It is useful when working with thin sheets, does not overheat them, there is no warping during welding. Usually several modes are set at a frequency of 1 Hz, 10 Hz, 500 Hz. The result is a beautiful scaly seam.
MMA welding is the international designation for manual arc welding. It is produced by electrodes coated with a special protective coating. The MMA welding process occurs due to the formation of an arc between the electrode and the workpiece to be welded.
The electrode, melting, enters the weld pool, which was formed due to the melting of the edges of the workpieces. The coating also melts and forms a protective layer on the surface of the bath, after cooling it turns into slag. Easily removed with a hammer.
Semi-automatic welding
The choice of equipment for the welder is huge. The MIG MAG welding machine is very popular. It is used in almost all auto repair shops due to its high quality seam.
Most welding machines now use inverters. The frequency of welding current in them practically does not depend on changes in the mains voltage. At the same time, they have a compact size and weight, which makes them mobile.
Since the power source for most types of electric arc welding has the same parameters, manufacturers began to create universal models that can work in different modes and different types of burners. Semi-automatic welding MIG MAG and TIG has been especially developed.
Welding wire
Semi-automatic MIG MAG TIG welding involves the use of a welding wire that is threaded into the machine. The quality of the seam also depends on its characteristics. In some cases, it is even possible to dispense with shielding gas when using flux-cored wire.
There are four types of additives: aluminum, steel, copper-plated and powder. The most requested are the last two. Their use guarantees the absence of splashes and high productivity.
In addition to the flux-cored wire, the filler wire must be used in a protective gas environment. When purchasing, be sure to check compatibility with the materials to be welded and tips.
Universal semi-automatic
A striking example of universalization is the Triton MIG MT 250 semi-automatic type welding machine. This semi-automatic device belongs to professional equipment and is a small-sized inverter on wheels that generates 250 A in peak mode.
It provides high quality welding in MIG, MAG, TIG DC, MMA modes and can weld with Spot Stitch technology. To do this, the delivery set of the welding machine includes torches for three types of welding.
In peak mode, the on-time is 60%, at currents up to 200 A - 100%. Arc Force and Lift TIG are provided for easy and reliable arcing.
The filler wire is fed with a drive on 4 rollers, it is possible to use a 300 mm spool.
A special connector allows the machine to work with Push-pull and spool guns. These are burners that have their own filler wire feeder, a coil is located on it. Filler wire is used of any grade, including flux-cored wire with a diameter of up to 1.2 mm.
Operating modes
The welding machine with four modes (MIG, MAG, TIG, MMA) opens up a wide range of possibilities. It allows you to create a seam in a different position, cook ferrous, non-ferrous metals, galvanization, thin and thick sheets.
Spot/Stitch
“Point / stitch” - this is how you can translate the name of the mode. In it, the MIG MT 250 machine cooks with stitches. The welding drop is transferred at the moment of the absence of a short circuit, which reduces the heat input to the workpiece to be welded. This eliminates overheating and warping of the metal.
The mode is used when welding galvanized products and stainless steel. Reduced heating of the electrode and workpiece allows you to increase the performance of the device and the service life.
MIG/MAG
In MIG and MAG mode, the welding machine works semi-automatically. The filler wire is fed uniformly with the simultaneous supply of shielding gas.
It remains for the welder to lead the torch along the future seam at a certain height from the part to be welded. This ensures a high welding speed and a high-quality weld, thanks to the protection of an inert gas from atmospheric oxygen. Welding current can be adjusted in a wide range from 30 to 250 A.
TIG
Unlike most semi-automatic MIG MAG devices, the MIG MT 250 model can weld metals in TIG mode with direct current. The device provides for quick ignition of the electric welding arc when the end of the electrode touches the workpiece to be welded.
At the time of the arc, there is no high-frequency interference, which allows it to be used in the radio industry and other areas of production (or amateur welding) related to electronics.
MMA
Traditional manual arc welding provides welding of ferrous metals and their alloys. Constant current allows you to get a stable arc.
A special function of the ARC-FORCE welding machine provides arc power adjustment, which allows you to obtain the required arc parameters and a quality weld.
Additive supply
The additive feeder is located inside the inverter housing. The drive feeds the wire evenly without jamming, it does not slip or stretch. The machine can be loaded with a spool weighing 15 kg along with filler wire, the diameter of which varies from 0.8 to 1.2 mm.
The delivery set of the universal welding machine includes:
- inverter type power supply;
- MIG/MAG torch with 3 m cable;
- TIG torch with 4 m cable;
- network cable;
- a hose to supply protective gas;
- holder with cable for manual work MMA;
- cable for connecting the "mass" (a clamp is provided on it).
The mass of the device with MIG, MAG, TIG and MMA functions is 32 kg, there are wheels for transportation. The front panel displays all information about the state of the device at the current moment.
Connectors for quick disconnection of cables are located. The pin connector allows the connection of SPOOL GUN torches, which makes it possible to use almost any type of welding wire. This allows, in turn, to greatly expand the list of welded metals and their alloys.
Protection against overheating and overloads is provided.
Such a selection of the functions of the device allows it to be a universal device, which ensures the performance of almost all types of welding work without the purchase of additional equipment.
Welding allows you to get one-piece joints, characterized by exceptional strength. This indicator at the seam should not be lower than the base material, which is achieved by strict technology requirements and the addition of alloying substances. In addition, this process is characterized by the connection speed, the complexity of the acceptable form, the ability to control and vary the basic parameters. MIG / MAG welding is developing most dynamically in the industrial version, but other types are also being improved. The choice of a specific approach is determined by a number of parameters:
- The material of the connected parts.
- production conditions. MIG, MMA and TIG require different organization and preparation of production. The set of necessary equipment can vary from a simple power source to a kit that includes a finely adjustable feed mechanism and a compressed gas cylinder.
- quality requirements. MIG, MAG, MMA and TIG welding should not always be considered as interchangeable - they have different capabilities, including in the formation of a weld.
- Personnel qualification. The most accessible in this are MAG and MMA. However, RDS is noticeably more difficult with increased requirements and small sizes: leg, width, height, etc.
- expected performance. The semi-automatic and automatic process turns out to be much faster than the manual one. Depending on this, suitable species are considered, and the optimal one is selected.
In our country, the definition of manual arc welding (and the abbreviation RDS) is common. It is cheaper and easier to organize production and less demanding on equipment.
The connection of two elements in MMA occurs with the help of an electrode - a metal rod coated with a coating containing substances that help maintain the arc, protect the welding zone, and form a seam with desired properties. When voltage is applied, a stable short circuit is formed between the rod and the workpiece, leading to their mutual melting.
Complexity can be delivered by the requirement for the qualification of the welder. To get a neat and reliable joint requires skill and long experience.
Particular attention in MMA is paid to the condition of the electrodes, which should not be wet or crumbling. Do not neglect pre-drying and checking.
MIG/MAG
The question of what MIG / MAG welding is should not be misleading, despite the unusual designation.
The English abbreviation MIG / MAG (MIG / MAG) hides the well-known semi-automatic welding with electrode wire in a protective gas environment.
Instead of a rod, a thin wire acts as an electrode, which is semi-automatically fed into the zone of formation of the weld. This compensates for the melting process and simplifies the task of the performer.
Small diameter wire (from 0.8 to 3.0 mm) allows you to get a compact connection size of a few millimeters.
Fundamentally, MIG differs from MAG in the type of protective gas that is required for isolation from the environment with its high oxygen content in the air. Oxidative processes adversely affect the structure through the formation of intergranular rust. MIG welding involves the use of an inert gas, which itself does not enter into any chemical reactions, but due to its relatively large weight, tends to go down, displacing air. A local microclimate is formed, which shows good results.
MAG welding, on the other hand, involves the interaction between the natural and created environment, accompanied by the binding of oxygen.
TIG
Diagram of tig technology
The interpretation of this abbreviation leads to welding with a non-consumable electrode in an inert gas environment. As the main welding material, thin sharpened tungsten rods are used, which have sufficient resistance so as not to melt at operating temperatures. The wire is used as an additive, but its presence is not a prerequisite.
The argon-based protective environment not only sets the right casting processes, but also forms a melt zone that is localized and deep.
TIG is demanding on the level of the welder and on the equipment. Due to its minimal heating, it is usually used to work with aluminum or thin sheet stainless steel. The same applies to MIG welding.
flux
Of the types of arc welding, in addition to MIG MMA TIG, it is also worth mentioning that it proceeds under a flux layer. There are many variations on what flux is. It combines all possible materials with such qualities as flowability, the ability to influence the formation of a seam at all stages of remelting (including under adverse external conditions), the ability to form a monolithic crust after cooling. The use of flux shows very good results, but complicates the process itself and implies additional costs. MIG, TIG and MAG are more economical and easier to implement.
