ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the most common arc welding processes, concentrating mainly on aspects important for metallurgical behavior. The shielded metal arc welding method is also commonly called manual metal arc welding referring to the fact that in the majority of cases it is carried out by a welder guiding the stick electrode. In the original electric arc welding process, welding was carried out with a bare steel rod, which not surprisingly gave poor results. Looking at the trends in market development of welding methods, gas-shielded arc welding is the most widely used welding method in all developed countries. All arc welding systems have the same general configuration: a power source, necessary for generating the arc between the electrode and the workpiece. Welding must be made in many positions, such as horizontal, vertical, or overhead, so the plasma forces can even overcome the force of gravity.
