MIG welding is usually used in shops where the production of the same types of products is high and where there is less chance of your gas shielding being blown away by the wind. It is widely used in construction processes, sheet metal work in the automotive industry, shipbuilding, and car restoration business. The process can be automatic or semi-automatic, meaning that in some cases, robots are used to do the welding. This article will discuss what you can weld with a MIG welder and which industries usually make use of MIG welding.
Which Metals Can be MIG Welded?
This type of welding is so commonly used because it is possible to weld almost any material with it. Though this might not be the best choice for every application, it is cost-effective, quick and an efficient technique of welding that is really beginner-friendly, thus it is easy for employers to train and specialize their workers. MIG welder is usually used for the welding of stainless steel, aluminum, and carbon steel. However, it can be used for welding other metals and alloys as well like:
1. silicon bronze
2. magnesium
3. copper
4. nickel
The ladder four are not very popular among people because they are fairly expensive to perform and usually welding such materials that require silicone bronze as a filler is not frequently used in everyday life.
Generally, GMAW is used in automotive repairs, construction, maintenance, pipe welding, robotics, and on farms.
MIG welding applications.
There are various applications of MIG welding ranging from small businesses and repair shops to heavy welding processes in the large sections of the welding industry. It is usually used in steel metal industries, shipbuilding industry, and automotive industry. Though MIG welding can be a complicated process for some, it is still one of the most used welding processes. Let’s look at what you can weld with a MIG welder and how industries make use of it.
- Automotive Industry
This is the most common type of welding process that is used to repair vehicles like bikes, cars, and trucks. It is very suitable for welding thin metals as it provides a solid and reliable as well. This is the reason MIG welder is used for repairing and assembling the chassis of cars and bikes. MIG-welded metals are also very adaptable and strong, an unquestionable requirement for automobiles that need to hold up to years of use. Not only does MIG welding produce long-lasting results, but it is also very convenient.
A lot of vehicles these days make use of aluminum. It is metal that requires the need of a MIG welder to be welded together fast and effectively. There is no doubt that in the near future, MIG welding will be by far one of the most commonly used techniques in the manufacturing industry. - Construction
Steel is the most widely used metal for construction all over the world. Though MIG welding is more commonly used for welding steel structures. Its use for steel construction and maintenance is likely to increase in the upcoming years. Since the US government has been investing in the repair and construction sector, the need for MIG welders is going to rise. - High Production Assembling
High creation assembling includes the large-scale manufacturing of something or pretty much everything. High production assembling or manufacturing can be used in the making parts of ships, car parts, and parts for computers and gear for the military. MIG welding is used in the production of these parts because it is not as time-consuming and it is cost-effective while providing awesome results. It is also ordinarily utilized in this sector because it can be used on numerous kinds of metals. It can be used for steel, carbon steel, aluminum, nickel, and magnesium.
Limitations of MIG Welding
- MIG welding can be more costly in some cases depending on the shielding gas needed
- The process is made quite difficult if the base metal is not clean or is rusting.
- If the process parameters are not accurate, it might lead to lack of fusion defects.
- It might take time to replace the bottle of shielding gas and can get in the way while welding.
- It is not usually as portable as some other methods of welding
Conclusion:
So, by now, we know that MIG welding has varieties of applications and you can use it to weld almost anything. Also, its uses and applications are bound to increase in the upcoming years, since it is predicted that there will be an increase in construction and maintenance.