| One of the most common welding techniques is the | | | | and ¼ inches thick. Sometimes welders have |
| Submerged Arc Welding (SAW). It is important to | | | | used a wire that is twisted so the arc will begin to |
| note that this was one of the first types of welding | | | | oscillate. Sometimes this will be helpful to fuse the |
| to get a patent. To do this type of welding there | | | | bottom of the weld and the base metal together. |
| needs to be an electrode that is either tubular or solid | | | | There are several advantages to using SAW which |
| (consumable). This will need a continuous feed as well. | | | | include: |
| In order to protect the weld and the arc zone they | | | | -It has a high deposition rate and it can penetrate the |
| are "submerged" to protect them from contamination | | | | weld deeply. |
| from the atmosphere. Fusible flux that includes lime, | | | | -When you have designed a good process and you |
| silica, manganese oxide or calcium fluoride is used | | | | have control over what you are doing you can be |
| under a blanket. Other compounds can be used as | | | | sure that you get a strong weld. |
| well. | | | | -You can actually do this with thin sheets of steel |
| As it melts the flux acts as a conductor and creates | | | | and they can be done at a higher speed. |
| a path for the current that moves between the | | | | -There are very minimal fumes or arc lights which |
| electrode and the work that is being done. This | | | | makes this a safer process. |
| creates a thicker layer of the flux and it covers the | | | | -You can do this indoors or outdoors. |
| metal as it melts. By doing this process there is no | | | | -You don't have a lot of distortion. |
| spatter or sparks because the flux is covering | | | | -You don't get any spatter on the weld because the |
| everything. This process will also suppress any | | | | arc is always under the blanket of flux. |
| ultraviolet radiation or fumes that will from this | | | | -As with any technique there are a few limitations |
| Submerged Arc Welding (SAW) process. | | | | with the SAW method that include: |
| Most welders will do this process in either an | | | | -You are limited to only a few positions that you can |
| automatic or mechanized mode of operation but | | | | use this within. |
| some of the other types of guns like the | | | | -You can only use steel, stainless steel or a few |
| semi-automatic ones (that are hand held) can be | | | | nickel based metals. |
| used since they have a pressurized or a gravity type | | | | -The flux handling systems can be more complex and |
| of flux feed. Usually you will have to use this in either | | | | difficult to use. |
| the flat or horizontal fillet positions. | | | | -Slag is a problem in a couple of ways: you can get |
| The SAW technique of welding uses a standard wire | | | | residue from it that may cause some issues with |
| and it can also use some of the specialty forms. A | | | | your health or with safety and it will require a |
| good wire for this filler material will be between 1/16 | | | | complicated slag removal system. |