What are the four main types of welding processes?

The four main types of welding processes that are commonly recognized in industrial applications include Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW), Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), and Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW). These processes are essential techniques widely used in various welding applications due to their unique characteristics and versatility.

1. SMAW: Also known as Manual Metal Arc (MMA) welding, this process utilizes a consumable electrode coated in flux to lay the weld. It is versatile and can be used on a wide variety of metals and thicknesses.

2. GMAW: Better known as MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding, this process employs a continuous solid wire electrode fed through a welding gun while shielding the weld area from contamination using an inert gas. This process is favored for its speed and ease of use, especially in welding thin materials.

3. GTAW: This process, commonly referred to as TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld. It provides high-quality welds and is particularly useful for welding thin sections of stainless steel and non-ferrous metals