Shielded Metal Arc Welder

Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) is also known as Stick welding or covered electrode welding. It is one of the most widely used welding processes. Generally, stick welders or shielded metal arc welding machines are used for SMAW processes.

Salient Features

• Stick welder is most suitable for welding any steel, especially sheet metal or heavy plate.
• The welding machine consists of an electrode holder and cable, work clamp and cable, sample pack of stick electrodes, welding helmet and a helpful welder's guidebook.
• It offers continuous output control, which provides an extremely smooth arc, at any current setting.
• The stick welder is suitable for outdoor use.

Working Principle
The welding process involves striking an arc between a coated-metal electrode and the base metal. When the arc is formed, the molten metal from the tip of the electrode flows along with the molten metal from the edges of the base metal to form a sound joint. This process is known as fusion. There is a flux covering the electrode or weld deposit, which melts during welding. The flux shields the weld deposit and the arc from contamination. Due to this, the process is also called shielded metal arc welding. The flux also provides a method of adding deoxidizers, scavengers and alloying elements to the weld metal.

Advantages of SMA Welder

• The machine is simple and portable
• Electrode provides and regulates its own flux
• The machine has minimum sensitivity to wind and drafts than gas shielded welding processes

Uses & Applications
Shielded metal arc welding machines or Stick welders are used for variety of purposes. Common applications of stick welders are in:

• Maintenance & repairs
• Fabricating or modifying equipment
• Rebuilding worn parts or dies
• Building tools or fixtures
• Hardfacing new or worn parts
• Cutting and piercing holes in steel
• Construction sites
• Metal Industries