A weldment is the joining of two different metal pieces into one weldment assembly. In other words, a weldment is what is produced when different pieces of metal are welded together together. The design for a finished product is called a weldment profile. A weldment design determines what kind of weldment assembly is produced. It should be designed taking into account what function the metal is needed to perform when it is welded together.
There are several different types of welding, and there are multiple types of weldments. Arc welding uses an electric arc to fuse a base or parent metal with the added metal. The current used can be direct or can be an alternating current.
Electrosag welding is used primarily for large horizontal weldments where two large plates need to be welded together. This type of welding might be used in large machine manufacturing. Electrosag welding deposits the additional or weld metal into the space between the two pieces of metal that need to be joined.
Gas metal arc welding, also known as metal inert gas (MIG) welding, is a type of welding that uses a gas to protect the area being welded. The process reduces oxidation and makes it possible to weld very thin sheets of metal together. It is also relatively easy to automate MIG weldments, so this type of welding might be found where robotic methods are used.
Tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding, also called gas tungsten arc welding, generates the heat needed to weld the metal by using tungsten electrodes as part of the arc. A metal filler wire might be used, and the gas is usually a mixture of argon and helium. TIG welding is often used where weldments need to be thin, of a high quality and with a good final finish.
Another type of weldment comes from shielded-metal arc welding (SMAW). This is one of the oldest methods of creating weldments. It is also very flexible and versatile for a variety of different welding projects. In this type of welding, the heat generated melts the coated electrode and the metal being welded together, creating an alloy of the welded metals. This type of weldment is seen in pipelines, in ship building and in construction work.
In plasma arc welding (PAW), a very hot plasma jet is created by electrodes and ionized gases. The plasma jet is aimed at the weld area to melt the metal. This type of welding is used when speed is important or when a deeper weld is required.